Wildlife

Wild Rabbit Population Welfare and Disease Management

Wild rabbit populations in the UK face ongoing pressure from myxomatosis and RVHD, with management decisions affecting both rabbit and predator welfare.

Key Facts

Myxomatosis killed 99% of UK rabbits after introduction in 1953
RVHD2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease 2) emerged in the UK in 2018 causing further declines
Rabbits are a keystone prey species for foxes, buzzards, stoats, and polecats
Population recovery in some areas has been assisted by vaccination of wild populations
Rabbits engineer landscapes through grazing and burrowing that benefits many other species

Welfare Considerations

Disease in wild rabbit populations causes significant individual suffering at population scale. Both myxomatosis and RVHD cause distressing deaths. Where intervention is feasible, vaccination and biosecurity support rabbit welfare while maintaining ecosystem services.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate pet rabbits annually against both myxomatosis and RVHD
Support conservation projects managing rabbit habitat
Report sick wild rabbits to local wildlife organisations
Learn about rabbit ecology and their role in supporting predator populations