Oryctolagus cuniculus : European rabbit

Origin: Southern Europe and northern Africa.

Colonized areas: All continents except Antarctica and Asia.

Method of colonization: Voluntary human introduction for sport hunting and as a source of food for sailors in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Involuntary introduction of escaped domestic animals.

Impacts: Causes severe damage to vegetation and crops. As well, an abundance of rabbits tends to attract larger populations of predators which, in their turn, threaten populations of local species.

Rate of reproduction: From 18 to 30 bunnies per female per year. A female can begin to reproduce at the age of 4 months.

Obstacles to eradication: High rate of reproduction.