AGE AND SEX BIAS IN SAMPLES OF WILD RABBITS, ORYCTOLAGUS-CUNICULUS, FROM WILD POPULATIONS IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND

Samples from wild rabbit populations in southern England were analysed to relate the age and sex ratios to the methods of collection. One sa mple of 2178 rabbits was collected from 14 farms using seven main meth ods. A second sample of 2672 individuals was taken from a long-term li ve capture study at one site, and a third sample derives from the subs equent removal sampling of 233 rabbits, using five main methods, on th at site. The last sample consisted of 346 rabbits from two managed est ates using three methods. The age and sex ratios were also compared wi th published data. In general, aboveground methods of ''capture'' were biased toward males and within-warren methods toward females. Some me thods, particularly shotguns or ferreting, resulted in samples which d id not appear to be representative of the age structure of the populat ion, when compared with other methods of sampling. Such biases must ha ve important implications on the timing and methods used to control ra bbits.