Rabbits are a serious mammalian pest in Australia and an invasive species. Annually, European rabbits cause millions of dollars of damage to crops. Since their introduction from Europe in 1859, the effect of rabbits on the ecology of Australia has been devastating. Rabbits are suspected of being the most significant known factor in species loss in Australia. The loss of plant species is unknown at this time. Rabbits often kill young trees in orchards, forests and on properties by ringbarking them.