Wild rabbit populations have declined dramatically in the UK due to myxomatosis and RHD - their welfare as a prey species and the ecological impacts of their decline both deserve attention.
Wild rabbit welfare involves both individual welfare from disease and control methods, and the ecological welfare of the broader community dependent on rabbits. Myxomatosis causes prolonged suffering - affected rabbits show progressive blindness, facial swelling and respiratory distress over 1-2 weeks. Humane killing of myxomatosis-affected wild rabbits reduces welfare harm but is rarely practiced at scale. Snaring for control causes acute injury to caught rabbits and non-target species welfare harm. The ecological welfare argument for maintaining rabbit populations at viable levels - supporting predators and maintaining grassland habitats - adds a wildlife community dimension to rabbit welfare advocacy.