Rabbit

Pentalagus

Rabbits and people

The European Rabbit is the only species of rabbit to be domesticated. However, rabbits and people interact in many different ways beyond domestication. Rabbits are an example of an animal which is treated as food, pet and pest by the same culture.

Related Topics:
European Rabbit - Domestication - Animal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When used for food, rabbits are both hunted and raised for meat. Snares or guns along with dogs are usually employed when catching wild rabbits for food. In many areas rabbits are also raised for meat, a practice called cuniculture. Rabbit pelts are a widely used fur for clothing.

Related Topics:
Snare - Gun - Dog - Cuniculture

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Domestic rabbits make very friendly and playful pets. They are widely kept throughout the world and may be kept inside or out. However, domesticated rabbits kept outdoors in climates with temperature extremes must be provided with shelter (heated in winter and shaded in summer). Typically, domesticated rabbits have difficulty with temperatures below 15 degrees celsius.

Related Topics:
Domestic rabbit - The world

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rabbits have also been a source of environmental problems when introduced into the wild by humans (see Rabbits in Australia for details of it as a pest species in that country). Because of their appetites, and the rate at which they breed, wild rabbit depredation can prove problematic for agriculture. Gassing, barriers (fences), shooting, snaring and ferreting have been used to control rabbit populations, as has the disease myxomatosis.

Related Topics:
Rabbits in Australia - Gas - Ferret - Myxomatosis

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~