Rabbits

Despite their negative reputation as non-native species, European Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus play an important role in promoting biodiversity in dune, grassland, and heathland habitats in Jersey.

The grazing, paw scraping, and burrowing activities of European Rabbits create more complex habitats containing patches of bare ground.

Through these activities, European Rabbits play a crucial role in maintaining favourable conditions for an abundance of moss, lichen, plant, insect, and bird species.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Jersey Biodiversity Centre receives relatively few European Rabbit records. You can help by submitting your sightings of this under-recorded mammal.