Where have all the Rabbits gone?

[lensman57]

Have you seen any in significant numbers?

A.G

[secretagentmole]

Hardwick Road Roundabout, King's Lynn, but none on the big permission, runs overgrown, no burrows in use on the bank, no signs of mixy anywhere or reports from the farm workers of any, might have an infestation of RHD (rabbit haemorrhagic disease)...

But cheer up, Pheasant and Partridge seasons starts Monday so into the trees..... Duck and Geese are on the go too, just see if I can get the buggers to land on the fields..

[Gerard c.]

my permissions here in north hampshire hardly any at all this summer no sign of mixie. Have been asked to look at a property not far from me with suspected " a lot of baby bunnies" having alook later will let you know what I find

[angrybear]

I've been seeing a few out in daylight & there were a few about when I was out with the NV but not as many as I was expecting.

I have found a couple dead, thinking it was the idiot neighbour poaching I skinned them looking for a wound but no sign of injury

[secretagentmole]

I've been seeing a few out in daylight & there were a few about when I was out with the NV but not as many as I was expecting.

I have found a couple dead, thinking it was the idiot neighbour poaching I skinned them looking for a wound but no sign of injury

RHD, causes massive internal bleeding, dead bunnies, no sign of malnourishment or mixy infestation.

[piggy589]

RHD, causes massive internal bleeding, dead bunnies, no sign of malnourishment or mixy infestation.

Quite right,it accounts for our place resembling watership down, and then overnight nothing.

[secretagentmole]

Quite right,it accounts for our place resembling watership down, and then overnight nothing.

I am lucky I have other places I can go, now the yard apes are back in school they won't be giving riding lessons, so night vision time!

[angrybear]

RHD, causes massive internal bleeding, dead bunnies, no sign of malnourishment or mixy infestation.

No sign of any internal damage either, they looked as good as if I'd freshly shot them

[Squintykid]

No sign of any internal damage either, they looked as good as if I'd freshly shot them

rapid onset RHD can be virtually symptomless, 24 hrs and dead. Fever and brain haemorage? The visible severe long term symptoms 2-5 days.

The infection / mortality rate is more like 95% to 98% and only affects mature rabbits so one week its Watership Down then when it hits the adults and any litter over 6-8 weeks are wiped out.

Most of the rabbits on the pocket park where I walk my dog....gone in the last week. Usually a dozen or more sitting out in the open and plenty hopping off the paths (so many the dog ignores them). Second or maybe third time in 5 years, takes 18 months for some recovery then gone again.
A tiny amount have immunity / resistance but that doesn't appear to be passed on?

[Gareth W-B]

Have you seen any in significant numbers?

There were a couple being cooked up by The Hairy Bikers on 'Saturday Morning Kitchen' a few hours back, and I saw about a dozen on the grass verge just off the A12 by the Boreham junction last night around 7pm, so yep, they are about, but not as many as usual, and those that are about will become less and less visible as the Autumn rolls on ...

.

[ian321]

Yup, been wiped out with the infection. Up to 80%!
I’m tying to manage mine now by only shooting the mixy ones, I certainly don’t want to wipe out the entire species!

[Gareth W-B]

Yup, been wiped out with the infection. Up to 80%!
I’m tying to manage mine now by only shooting the mixy ones, I certainly don’t want to wipe out the entire species!

I sort of agree on many levels, but don't forget, that like the grey squirrel, the rabbit is not an indigenous species. For rabbits were introduced (albeit several centuries ago) by the last knockings of the Roman occupation as a farmed and controlled food source for their soldiers (as were stinging nettles), and once the Romans pulled out, the rabbits ran rampant (as did the stinging nettles) to the detriment of our native hares and aligned Pagan culture.

In time the rapidly reproducing rabbits pushed our native hares out of most areas, and within the last century, has seen the sanitisation of the traditions and myths of the March Hare get transformed into the sickeningly ridiculous -- and infinitely commercial -- Easter Bunny.

So would I like to see the rabbit population of our fields gone? Maybe not truth be told, although if it could be proven that the removal of the same would help re-establish our indigenous hare in significant numbers, then maybe I would have a second think?

I would loose the grey squirrels as introduced to the U.K. in the 19th Century in a flash, however, as that really would allow colonies of our native red squirrels -- who have been mostly eradicated by the presence of the North American grey -- return to our woodlands (with a little help), as currently they are now only to be found on the Isle of Wight and in areas of Scotland.

Lecture/rant over.

[ian321]

I sort of agree on many levels, but don't forget, that like the grey squirrel, the rabbit is not an indigenous species. For rabbits were introduced (albeit several centuries ago) by the last knockings of the Roman occupation as a farmed and controlled food source for their soldiers (as were stinging nettles), and once the Romans pulled out, the rabbits ran rampant (as did the stinging nettles) to the detriment of our native hares and aligned Pagan culture.

In time the rapidly reproducing rabbits pushed our native hares out of most areas, and within the last century, has seen the sanitisation of the traditions and myths of the March Hare get transformed into the sickeningly ridiculous -- and infinitely commercial -- Easter Bunny.

So would I like to see the rabbit population of our fields gone? Maybe not truth be told, although if it could be proven that the removal of the same would help re-establish our indigenous hare in significant numbers, then maybe I would have a second think?

I would loose the grey squirrels as introduced to the U.K. in the 19th Century in a flash, however, as that really would allow colonies of our native red squirrels -- who have been mostly eradicated by the presence of the North American grey -- return to our woodlands (with a little help), as currently they are now only to be found on the Isle of Wight and in areas of Scotland.

Lecture/rant over.

I agree with you too, I think things have gone to far to bring back things how they used to be though, so in this case I think we’re better off doing what we’re doing by managing certain areas like people are protecting the red squirrel. Me going on a grey squirrel eradication around my neck of the woods would help the reds 0% however I’m fully behind Jerry for what he does! I do shoot greys, but not for the sake of thinking I’m helping our reds.

[jigs]

Plenty in North Yorkshire

[Shootfish]

I agree with you too, I think things have gone to far to bring back things how they used to be though, so in this case I think we’re better off doing what we’re doing by managing certain areas like people are protecting the red squirrel. Me going on a grey squirrel eradication around my neck of the woods would help the reds 0% however I’m fully behind Jerry for what he does! I do shoot greys, but not for the sake of thinking I’m helping our reds.

I wish I could find the reference to an article (may have been BASC?) where it was explained that even by just shooting one grey squirrel in Dover, it could help the red squirrel population in Cumbria. I can't recall the details (I'm afraid I have to play the age card here) but it made logical sense.