Evaluation of a new trap to capture wild rabbits (Sylvilagus cunicularius and S. floridanus)

Abstract

We describe the design of a net trap developed to capture wild rabbits of the species Silvilagus cunicularius and S. floridanus in La Malinche National Park, Tlaxcala. The performance of the net trap was compared with that of box traps, evaluating the efficiency of capture and recapture, and bias with respect to sex, body mass and the type of injuries associated with capture using each method. For S. cunicularius greater efficiency of capture and recapture was obtained with the net traps than with the box traps, no bias was found for sex for either type of trap, and only a bias was found towards the capture of the heaviest animals for the net traps. For S. floridanus, although there was a bias in captures with respect to sex (captures comprised a greater proportion of males), the pattern of captures was not as clear as for S. cunicularius, possibly due to the smaller number of captures for this species. In both species injuries caused by capture were more severe for the box than for the net traps. In conclusion, the net trap described here is a good method for capturing and recapturing wild rabbits of the genus Sylvilagus, and particularly heavier adult animals of either sex. It also reduces physical damage to the trapped animals.