What injury threshold indicates you should begin a control program for rabbits?

• A. When you first see one.
• B. When you see more than five.
• C. When crop losses reach 50%.
• D. When damage exceeds cost and time to control.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is economic injury level—the point at which the expected crop damage from rabbits equals the cost of controlling them, including the time and effort required. When damage is at or beyond that level, starting a control program makes economic sense because the losses from pest activity would exceed what you spend to prevent them. For rabbits, this means comparing how much crop value and yield you stand to lose against the cost of control measures (materials, labor, timing). If predicted losses exceed control costs, it’s the right moment to act to minimize overall losses. Waiting for just one rabbit, a small fixed number, or a fixed percentage of crop loss doesn’t tie directly to the economics, which is why those triggers aren’t the best indicators.