When should you begin a control program for rabbits?

• A. When the damage exceeds the cost and time required to control them
• B. Immediately at first sign of damage
• C. After winter
• D. Only if losses exceed 50% of crops

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is using an economic threshold: start a rabbit control program when the expected losses from the damage justify the expense and effort of control. In practice, you monitor the level of feeding and estimate how much value the plants will lose, then compare that to what it would cost to implement and maintain control. If the damage costs more than the control effort and resources needed to manage it, taking action now makes economic sense; if the damage is unlikely to exceed those costs, delaying or avoiding control saves resources. Acting immediately at the first sign of damage, waiting until after winter, or relying on a fixed loss percentage doesn’t account for the actual economics of the situation and can lead to unnecessary treatments or unacceptably large losses. So, begin when the damage reached a point where control is economically worthwhile.