The rabbit, a silent plague that threatens the Spanish countryside
.Small, slippery and at first glance harmless. But behind the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) lies one of the greatest challenges currently facing the Spanish countryside. Far from how endearing it may seem, this animal has gone in just a few years from being part of the natural balance to becoming a devastating pest for farmers, threatening not only crops, but also the viability of many family farms.
Why does it reproduce so easily?
Why does it reproduce so easily?The wild rabbit is one of the most prolific species in the animal kingdom. The explanation is biological:
- Sexual maturity: they reach the capacity to reproduce at 4 months of age .
- Almost continuous oestrus: they can mate practically all year round.
- Short gestation: only lasts about 30 days.
- Number of offspring: between 4 and 12 per litter, with the possibility of having 5 to 7 litters per year.
This means that a single pair of rabbits can produce more than 50 offspring per year. Under ideal conditions - mild winter, abundance of food, absence of predators - the population explosion is unstoppable.
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A plague of rabbits.
A plague that already affects more than 800,000 hectares
.The news published by the newspaper ABC on 2 June 2025 confirms it: the rabbit plague has already exceeded 800.000 hectares of damaged crops throughout Spain (see original news).
Regions such as Aragon, Aragón, Aragón and Aragón.
Regions such as Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia are being particularly hard hit. The damage mainly affects:
- Cereal crops (wheat, barley, oats)
- Cereal crops (wheat, barley, oats)
- Vineyards and young olive groves .
- Almond, pistachio and fruit trees
- Almond trees, pistachio trees and fruit trees
- Irrigation installations, slopes, rural roads and fences
- Irrigation installations, slopes, rural roads and fences
Cost to the farmer: protect yourself or lose everything
.Fighting this pest costs millions each year. Some of the usual measures are:
- Cynegetic fences: underground wire mesh fences, with an average cost of 7-10 €/linear metre.
- Stocking of foxes or birds of prey: without sufficient impact in the short term.
- Fences for foxes or birds of prey: without sufficient impact in the short term.
- Repellent treatments: expensive and not very effective over large areas.
- Repellent treatments: expensive and not very effective over large areas.
- Defensive reforestation: non-productive plant to stop access to crops.
- Defensive reforestation: non-productive plant to stop access to crops.
In many cases, these measures are not viable due to their high cost. The consequence: the farmer has to bear between 15% and 50% of production losses, depending on the location and intensity of the pest.
When the farmer becomes the hunter
.The situation is so serious that many farmers in Aragon have applied for hunting licences even though they have never practised this activity before. They do not do it for sport, but out of necessity. The Government of Aragon has enabled mechanisms to authorise urgent hunting controls even in periods outside the hunting season.
In our area, more and more farmers are forced to use shotguns and legal permits to defend their livelihoods.
Responsible hunting: a tool for the future
.Hunting, understood as a management tool and not as a recreational activity, is part of the solution. It allows populations to be maintained within sustainable levels and avoids ecological imbalances that affect the whole system.
We are not talking about extermination or indiscriminate hunting. We are talking about regulated, ethical and planned control, which allows for:
A commitment by all
Rabbit overpopulation is not just a problem for hunters and farmers. It is a question of territorial balance and sustainability. We must assume that without management, there is no future for the countryside.
We must assume that without management, there is no future for the countryside.
From the rural world, we ask that the role of responsible hunting be respected and understood. Because without it, agriculture dies. And with it, our villages.
With it, our villages.
Nature does not balance itself: it needs courageous decisions, technical support and political will. And it also needs us to listen to those who live from and for the countryside. Nature does not balance itself.
📎 Key reference: ABC article on the rabbit plague in Spain.
This article takes as its starting point the report published by the ABC newspaper on 2 June 2025, entitled "La plaga de conejos ya afecta a 800.000 hectáreas de cultivo". The rabbit plague already affects 800.000 hectares of crops"
It clearly states how this situation, far from being an isolated or anecdotal problem, has escalated into a national emergency. The testimonies of farmers, the official figures and the call for attention to the Ministry of Agriculture reflect a reality that those of us who live in the countryside were already familiar with.
As ABC reports, this pest has not only destroyed crops in regions such as Aragon, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura and Andalusia, but has also forced thousands of farmers to rethink their role: from producers to managers of the ecological balance on their land.
From this blog, we recommend reading the full original ABC article to broaden the overview of the problem:
