Rabbit Biology
The key to a successful integrated pest control management strategy lies in understanding the nature of the particular pest that you are concerned about. Knowing how an animal or insect is likely to behave, what it eats, how it lives, and how it breeds means that you know where to cut the pest off so that conditions are no longer favourable to circumstances that could lead to an infestation.
In this article, we are going to take a look at the biology of rabbits. These rodents don’t create in most of us the same revulsion as some of their pest cousins (rats and mice) but they nevertheless can be quite annoying to have around, particularly for those home owners who are facetious about their lawns and gardens. By understanding some of the key parts of rabbit biology, you can devise a strategy which will help to limit their numbers.
Eating habits
Rabbits are strict herbivores, so you don’t have to worry about them getting into your garbage or your pet food. However, they are ravenous little creatures and can wreak havoc on a lawn or garden in just one night. Usually one rabbit will not do too much damage, but when food is readily available you won’t have just one rabbit for very long (see the section on breeding).
Rabbits prefer plants that give off a strong and inviting odour, and that includes not only garden vegetable but also several types of flower. Softer plants such as lettuce and the tops of carrots and other root vegetables are preferred as the soft cellulose is easier for the rabbit’s digestive system to break down.
Behaviour
Because they are at the very bottom of the food chain, rabbits are nervous creatures and their behaviour reflects this. They prefer to den in hard to access spots, usually among a network of bushes. Most rabbits will create burrows for themselves, although the cottontail is not a digger and must rely solely on dense underbrush for survival.
Rabbits are very alert even while grazing; their large eyes, ears, and noses tip them off very quickly to the presence of danger. However, they are also creatures of habit; even when scared away from a likely food source on one occasion, they will probably return.
Breeding habits
Like most rodents, and all rodents which are considered pests, rabbits reproduce very rapidly. As we mentioned above, ideal breeding conditions occur when rabbits have lots of food at their disposal. During these times, a rabbit doe may give birth to as many as seven litters in one year. Not only do the kits mature very quickly (they are weaned within a month) they are also born quite quickly, with a gestation period of just one month. Moreover, a female rabbit can become pregnant again immediately after giving birth. Litters will have up to nine kits, so that means one rabbit female in good conditions may give birth to 49 babies in one year. Take into account the fact that the female babies are ready to reproduce after less than two months, and you can see why rabbits can become such a problem!