The proliferation of rabbits is generating a direct impact on the cereal, vineyard, olive, and almond fields of Lleida. Farmers in the area are already perceiving damage to their farms, and experts warn that the problem could worsen in the coming weeks.
The recent rains shoot up the rabbit population
According to the specialists consulted, the intense rains of recent months have caused an abundance of food which favors the growth in the number of herbivores. This phenomenon has reversed the downward trend that was recorded at the end of last year.
"In November and in December there was a drop in the rabbit population due to the weather, but this situation has turned around and now it is growing again at the rate it was doing in September" - Francesc Xavier Miarnau, expert in agriculture
Rate of reproduction and forecast of increase
The reproductive cycle of rabbits contributes to the rapid expansion of the species in the region. A pair of rabbits can generate up to 200 individuals in two years, according to the estimates of Francesc Xavier Miarnau. Gestation lasts an average of 32 days, although it can range between 28 and 35 days. Furthermore, with the recovery of the population, the interval between births may not exceed a month and a half.
The article highlights that 80% of the 5 to 8 offspring in each litter are females and that these reach sexual maturity before 5 months of age. This data is key to understanding the speed of population growth and the extent of damage to agricultural holdings.
Concern for the immediate future in Lleida
Experts agree that the situation "will escalate" if measures are not taken. The combination of abundant food and the high reproductive rate of rabbits keeps the farmers of the province on alert. Monitoring the evolution of overpopulation will be decisive to avoid greater losses in cereal, vineyard, olive, and almond crops in the coming seasons.