Use of Burrows and Movements of Wild Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in an Area of Hill Grazing and Forestry

Abstract

SUMMARY (1) Radio-collared rabbits were followed throughout the year on an area of upland grazing and forestry plantations in the Scottish Borders to study their use of burrows and cover for refuge during the day. (2) Observations on the distribution of radio-collared rabbits, faecal pellets and burrows suggested an isolated, discrete population, using an area of approximately 37 ha. Trapping out at the end of the study gave a breeding density of approximately two rabbits ha-'. (3) A few rabbits were permanently in burrows in the middle of a field in the centre of the area. The remainder, 86% of the population, were to be found during the winter on the surface in surrounding forestry plantations. (4) Young rabbits at the end of the summer were initially to be found in burrows, but most of these left during November and went to live in the plantations. The youngest rabbits were the last to leave. (5) Ferreting the warrens in the middle of November suggested that all burrows within 70 m of Sitka spruce plantations were empty. (6) The movements of radio-collared rabbits in the plantations were not affected by the removal of those in burrows in the field in November and rabbits were not seen again in the field until the following February. (7) Surface-living rabbits were found further into the trees and away from the field edge as the winter progressed (up to 250 m) but started to move back to the field during the spring. (8) The results are discussed in relation to the causes of surface living in rabbits from the viewpoints of social behaviour and avoidance of predation, and in relation to the effectiveness of gassing burrows as a method of rabbit control in afforested areas.