Wildlife

Rabbit Welfare: Myxomatosis, Disease, and Population Management

Wild rabbits face devastating disease from myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease, raising significant welfare concerns.

Key Facts

Myxomatosis killed over 99 percent of the UK rabbit population in the 1950s when first introduced
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease emerged in the 1990s causing further population declines
Wild rabbits are important prey for many predators including buzzards and stoats
They graze short turf that many rare plants and invertebrates depend on
Recovery of populations has been slow due to continued disease pressure

Welfare Considerations

Myxomatosis causes severe suffering with swollen eyes, skin tumours, and secondary infections leading to death over weeks. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease kills quickly but with internal haemorrhage. Diseased animals may be unable to feed or escape predators, extending suffering. Culling operations on farms cause welfare concerns when methods are poorly executed. Pet rabbits are vaccinated but wild animals have no protection.

What You Can Do

Report severely diseased wild rabbits to local vets or wildlife rescue centres
Support humane methods of rabbit population management where control is necessary
Advocate for continued research into rabbit disease impacts and potential immunocontraception
Maintain rabbit grazing habitats that support rare chalk grassland flora
Support vaccination of pet rabbits to prevent disease spread into wild populations