Are rabbits indiginous to the UK?

[torjusg]

From one reason or an other I have this idea that rabbits are not indiginous to the UK, only hares.

The reason why I think so may be the fact that they also exist naturally in America. But on the other side I also think they are often found elsewhere in Europe. So what is it?

 

[Toddy]

No they aren't. Brought over last by the Normans to be kept in warrens to provide food and fur. There is some argument though that the Romans may have brought some over too, but they didn't spread They certainly seem to breed much faster than the hare.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[torjusg]

Thanks Toddy

Let's say that miraculously, the entire isle got forested again, would the rabbit become exterpitated? Does it rely on agriculture (or naturally open grasslands) to survive?

 

[andyn]

Torjus, this site has some info on the european rabbit:
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Oryctolagus_cuniculus.htm

 

[Ed]

They do feed on open grassland for saftey as there eyes give them a wide field of vision, but I think lack of natural predetors in big numbers is what makes them so successful.

Ed

 

[torjusg]

Thanks guys

Reintroduce lynx and you might have a solution to the problem then....

The lynx we have up here may be a little to big to care about rabbits though, they usually subsist on hares and roe deer.

 

[James_m246]

I like rabbits

 

[gregorach]

No they aren't. Brought over last by the Normans to be kept in warrens to provide food and fur. There is some argument though that the Romans may have brought some over too, but they didn't spread They certainly seem to breed much faster than the hare.

Cheers,
Toddy

Yeah, according to Adam Hart Davis on "What the Romans did for Us", they were introduced as a delicacy, but initially could't cope with the climate very well. They were also initially kept on islands I think - to reduce the risk of theft. They were regarded as highly valuable back then.

 

[Seagull]

Re-introduce lynx and you might have a solution to the problem then....

.

Nice one, Tor.
There would be all hell let loose

Ceeg

 

[James_m246]

I have a pet lynx, well, its a cat really but it's bloody massive!

 

[Silverback]

There is a possibility that the Romans introduced the Hare for sport as coursing was very popular even then. The breeding success of hares is largely dictated by the weather with long periods of dry weather producing successfully raised litters and cold wet weather obviously resulting in high mortality rates among young. A hare will also typically give birth to two or three leverets as opposed to a rabbit where litters of six to eight are quite common. Add to this the solitary nature of the hare and the fact that they exist totally above ground and the population count is a winner for the rabbit hands down. The last few summers has resulted in a massive increase in hares on the particular estate I under keep and I would estimate we have between 45 and 60 resident hares at any one time. Hares are not considered the threat to crops that rabbits present however where the hare differs from the rabbit is its habit of selecting only the freshest and healthy produce, consuming only a small amount before moving on and therefore not creating obvious grazed patches. Despite a recent increase, hare populations have depleted by around 75% since world war two for which modern agricultural techniques have been blamed. The introduction of set aside has certainly contributed towards what I would hope is a reverse in the general population decline.

 

[torjusg]

But the hare that turns white in the winter was there before I assume? That is the only one we have.

 

[Silverback]

Yes - the Mountain Hare was already here (now usually only found in the scottish highlands) a survivor at the end of the ice age!

 

[Nightwalker]

Interesting, thanks for the read.

 

[Toddy]

There are all sorts of folk tale memories of hares; there are stories that to some of the indigenous peoples it was a magical beast and not to be hunted; the Hare in the moon, used for the *borrowing* that Pratchett's Granny Weatherwax is so expert, full of the energy of Spring rising , etc.,

Rabbits on the other hand are seen as cute, cuddly, and good for dinner and furs

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Silverback]

Just to add to this rather interesting discussion did you know that the rabbit's foot is one of our oldest superstitious icons dating back to before 600 BC. The reason being that rabbits are widely known to be prolific breeders and are therefore seen as symbols of fertility. They are thought to provide good luck, good crops, many children, and prosperity . This luck presumably does not extend to the poor old rabbit who despite having four of em still finds himself in the situation where he has lost all of his supposed 'good luck' charms and has ended up in a pie!

 

[stuart f]

Apparently a cure for baldness is to get a rabbit tatooed on your head because from a distance it will look like hare .

I'll get me coat :theyareon

 

[Silverback]

News just breaking that the smiley police have been called to the scene where a particularly old joke has been seen tormenting a thread

 

[Wayland]

As far a I know the only evidence for the Roman introduction of rabbits is a single leg bone found on a dock site in London.

It could just as easily have been brought in as meat or been dumped off a ship.

The jury is definitely still out on this one.

I think it's another thing we can blame the Normans for.

Edit : See posts below for new info. It's nice to be wrong every now and again.

 

[anthonyyy]

From one reason or an other I have this idea that rabbits are not indiginous to the UK.

Dear confused.
They are not indiginous to the UK but then neither are the English.