Wildlife

Wild Rabbit Welfare: Myxomatosis, RVHD, and Predation

Wild rabbits face devastating population crashes from introduced diseases while remaining essential prey for dozens of predator species.

Key Facts

UK wild rabbit populations have declined over 60% since the 1990s from RVHD2 disease
Rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease causes rapid death within 12-36 hours of infection
Myxomatosis causes prolonged suffering over 10-14 days before death
Rabbits are keystone prey species; their decline causes cascading ecosystem harm
Spain lost 70% of wild rabbits to disease, devastating lynx and eagle owl populations

Welfare Considerations

Wild rabbits face two introduced lethal diseases with very different welfare profiles. RVHD2 causes rapid death within hours. Myxomatosis causes days of progressive deterioration with blindness and organ failure. Vaccination programs exist for domestic rabbits but cannot protect wild populations. The rapid decline of wild rabbits is causing welfare harm not just to rabbits but to the predator species whose survival depends on them.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate pet rabbits against both myxomatosis and RVHD annually
Support wild rabbit habitat restoration and disease monitoring programs
Donate to Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust rabbit research
Engage with conservation organizations about wild rabbit population management
Report signs of myxomatosis or RVHD in wild rabbits to wildlife authorities