Dispersal of the Wild Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniclus, at Urana in New South Wales

Abstract

In a natural population of rabbits, studied for 5 years, 307 dispersal movements by young rabbits were detected. Most movements occurred at the beginning of summer and more males moved than females. With the exception of one year there was no significant relationship between the ages of dispersing rabbits and the distances moved. Three rabbits, less than 1 month old, moved more than 1500 m. During a drought year the orientation of the movements was towards Lake Urana. Adult rabbits rarely changed warrens.