European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) restocking: Effects on abundance and spatial distribution

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has suffered a dramatic reduction in numbers in many parts of the Iberian Peninsula over the past 50 years. The European rabbit is a keystone species of Mediterranean ecosystems and an important game resource. Because of its role as a prey animal, it is important for the preservation of globally threatened Iberian predators. Several techniques have been used to help wild rabbit populations recover. Restocking is one of the most important techniques because of its frequent use throughout the rabbit's Mediterranean range. In the present study, we analyzed the population dynamics and spatial behavior observed between 2004 and 2007 in 6 different wild rabbit restockings with subterranean tube warrens in 3 private estates located in Extremadura (SW Spain). In all the estates, increases in spatial relevance in the rabbit population were observed, with expansions across >150 ha in one of the estates and an average of 69.86 ha 2 years after the last release. After the rabbits were restocked, they were observed continuously in 2 of the estates for 3 years after the initial release. In these high‐quality habitat sites, restockings have served as a source area. Restocking with subterranean tube warrens proved to be a suitable method for creating medium‐term sustainable populations with medium abundance (10.88 latrines/km 2 yr after the last release). This technique can be broadly applied for managing threatened species dependent on the rabbits in Mediterranean areas and for other threatened fossorial species. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.