RABBIT ORYCTOLAGUS-CUNICULUS POPULATIONS IN SCOTLAND SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF MYXOMATOSIS

A Rabbit survey of Scotland was carried out in 1991 following the methods used for previous surveys in 1969, 1970, 1973 and 1974. The survey was split into direct field and postal questionnaire sections, and the results from the two were compared. Rabbit infestations were categorized as slight and serious. Slight infestation proved to be an inconsistent indicator of Rabbits, but the percentage of serious infestations was highly correlated across sampling areas, and was also related to the average loss estimated by farmers. The pattern of recovery of Rabbit populations after myxomatosis varied between different parts of the country. In the East, Northeast and eastern Highlands the percentage of serious infestations was 26.5% in 1991, as compared to previous survey estimates of 55.9% before 1954 and 1.5% in 1969/70. In the Central, West, South and South-west serious Rabbit problems disappeared after 1954 and are now only at the level of 5%. It is estimated that Rabbits caused 11,790,000 Pounds worth of damage to agriculture in Scotland during 1990/91.