Wild rabbits in the UK face two devastating viral diseases - myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease - that cause significant welfare impacts across wild populations.
Myxomatosis remains one of the most visible sources of wildlife suffering in the British countryside, with affected rabbits visible for days or weeks in various stages of the disease. The welfare response to finding a myxomatotic wild rabbit involves a difficult judgement: handling wild animals causes stress, but leaving severely affected animals without intervention prolongs suffering. Guidance from wildlife welfare organisations recommends contacting a vet or wildlife rehabilitator for severely affected animals unable to move or feed.