Effect of odor derived from lion faeces on behavior of wild rabbits.

A synthetic repellent derived from lion feces was tested in both pen and field bioassay trials. The chemical suppressed the feeding of rabbits on carrots for approximately one month. The application of the chemical to rabbit burrows under field conditions showed that it decreased rabbit numbers in the treated warrens and that this effect could still be detected after five months. It is suggested that this chemical could be a timely environmentally acceptable addition to the armamentarium of control measures required to reduce the recent increase in rabbit numbers occurring in Britain.