Throughout history, humans have deliberately translocated rabbits and hares (leporids) around the world, so they now occupy every continent, with the exception of Antarctica. But our bunnies are not always lovable, at least not from a conservationist viewpoint. They can be a pest, creating economic and ecological mayhem. A new Mammal Review article examines studies on the twelve leporid species that have been introduced by humans to areas beyond their native ranges, highlighting the effects on the ecosystem at different levels. Rabbits and Hares breed fast One thing is certain about rabbits. Rabbits breed like rabbits, and that means fast! Most leporids have multiple litters per year with litter sizes varying from 1 to 11 individuals, and each female produces between 10 and 45 young per year. This makes them resilient to predation, and enables them to adapt rapidly to environmental change. They can also rapidly colonise a range of environments. T...