European Rabbit

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Rabbits were first introduced to the UK by the Normans as a source of food and fur, way back in the 12th century. They have since become a highly popular prey animal for many species, and to compensate for the high death rate, rabbits produce large litters of kits - hence the phrase "breeding like rabbits"...

Their life expectancy is about 3 years and they are perfectly designed to live in large grass areas, mainly farmland. With an average weight between 1-2 kg and a length of just 40 cm they are small but agile, and they can reach a speed of 45 mph.

With long ears and eyes on either side they are constantly on alert for predators. When they detect a threat they thump their back foot on the ground to alert others of the possible danger.

Rabbits live in a warren: a complex set of underground burrows with many entrances and exits, which has been created by generations of rabbits. They are very social animals, as there is safety in numbers!

One predator that cannot be outrun is the myxomatosis virus, which first emerged in South American rabbits at the end of the 19th century. In 1952, it was introduced to France on purpose in order to control rabbit numbers, and soon spread to the UK. Death by myxomatosis infection is slow and very unpleasant but fortunately is not as widespread now.