Legal status for land owners

All occupiers have statutory obligations regarding wild rabbits that are harbouring on their land.

An Order has been made under Section One of the Pests Act 1954 by which England and Wales (except for the City of London, the Isles of Sily and Skokholm Island) have been declared a Rabbit Clearance Area. In this area, every occupier of land is responsible for destroying wild rabbits on his/her land or for taking steps to prevent them causing damage. This is a continuing obligation.

History
The domestic rabbit is a descendant of the wild European rabbit. Rabbits were introduced to Britain by the Romans they kept them in fenced off warrens and used them for meat and fur. The earliest known records of rabbits in Britain are from the 12th Century. They were t described as conies, after the last part of their scientific name (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Rabbits are very adaptable and have become so successful in some areas of this country that they are considered to be a pest.

Life span
rabbits can live for an average of 5-10 years.

Distribution and Habitat in the wild
The European rabbit naturally is found all over Europe, except for the far north and east, and also inhabits North West Africa. The rabbit has been introduced to many other countries, including New Zealand, Australia and Chile. It lives in grassland, cultivated land, grassy coastal cliffs woodland and farm land ,anywhere it can populate and has food.

Behaviour in the wild
Wild rabbits are gregarious and a couple of hundred individuals may be found in one warren which is a network of underground burrows. They are most active during dusk and dawn,and will also come out during the day if undisturbed.

Rabbits primarily feed on grass and leafy plants such as farm crops, but they will feed on bulbs in gardens and woodland, bark and twigs when food is scarce. They can also be damaging to young trees .

Females can and often do produce several litters a year, usually in the spring and summer. There are between 3 and 9 young in a litter which are born blind and helpless. They emerge from the burrow after 3 weeks .