Wild bunnys as pets

[Shuck.]

I saw a video somewhere about some anti hunt sabetuers (you know the ones, balaclavas the lot) they were going round taking rabbits from snares etc. I got the impression they weren't letting them go as the video just stops when the bunnys were put in a box

 

I've had a look round but can't find any law against it, surely you can't take any wild animals out their habitats and take them in??

 

Just looking for a definitive answer as I remember another thread on here about the same thing happening to someone else (their snares broken into and game missing).

 

Thanks in advance

[Billy.]

The only pest you can't release once captured is a squirrel, I think.

 

I caught a 3 week old rabbit the other day, just to show my girlfriend, who was waiting for me to finish making a shooting hide on the farm. She was bored like mad so it cheered her right up.

 

I let it go in the end as it was a tiny little thing, no bigger than a small guinea pig.

[Cranfield]

I know of a few people who have kept wild rabbits they have found as "bolters" and fattened them up in hutches for the table.

 

Also a gundog trainer that had a rabbit pen with hutches, in an artificial warren setup.

He had about 8-10 rabbits at any one time and they lived quite happily for a normal life span, despite being chased occasionally by unruly springers.

[Shuck.]

That's interesting, I always thought there was some kind of animal rights thing (like bird eggs) regarding not taking wild animals, well.. from the wild.

 

thanks for clearing it up

[Popgun]

When my son was about 6 or 7 he got 5 young rabbits when we were ferreting we put them in a brick built shed put a few bails of straw into the shed we had them for about 2 years they stayed wild and only grew to about half size.he let them go in a place that had no rabbits but a lot of heavy cover they must have bred because from then on there have allways been rabbits on this bit of ground which is an island. so it is not naturly restocked,still it purduces 2 or 3 days ferreting each year which is very handy.

[Shuck.]

Nice bit of sporting you unwittingly got there

 

I was thinking of doing the same for my little bro but not sure if having a pet bunny will deter him from shooting them

[Billy.]

Nice bit of sporting you unwittingly got there

 

I was thinking of doing the same for my little bro but not sure if having a pet bunny will deter him from shooting them

 

I used to have a few pet rabbits as a kid and I swore I'd never eat one. I still shot the wild ones, but I was able to differentiate between a pet and a pest. I think you need to stress that, if your brother does get one.

[artschool]

I was thinking of doing the same for my little bro but not sure if having a pet bunny will deter him from shooting them

 

 

[Shuck.]

I used to have a few pet rabbits as a kid and I swore I'd never eat one. I still shot the wild ones, but I was able to differentiate between a pet and a pest. I think you need to stress that, if your brother does get one.

 

That's a good point you have Harford, out of interest how old were you when you owned pet rabbits and also shot pest ones?

 

artschool, I'll have a look at the link when I'm on my lunch break

Edited April 30, 2010 by Shuck.

[Billy.]

That's a good point you have Harford, out of interest how old were you when you owned pet rabbits and also shot pest ones?

 

artschool, I'll have a look at the link when I'm on my lunch break

 

I kept them from an early age, one had babies and we kept those and one that I got when I was about 5 was the last one I had and when it finally died I was 15 (I think a fox got it actually, as we only found a bit of fur...!)

 

I got my first gun, a GAT gun when I was about 4 or 5 (I still remember being given the box for it ) and from there my arsenal slowly grew!

[Shuck.]

4 or 5! If only more [responsible] parents had the confidence and interest to give their kids pellet guns nowdays..

 

We'd have twice the numbers we do now.

 

I never had the chance to own a GAT, but my first was a G10 - I think part of the same family as the GAT though.. not a very good gun but damn fun for a kid and tens of hours fun to be had

 

People who had guns as kids always seem more safe and aware then anyone else, in some cases, moreso then fully certified and trained 'proffessionals' nowdays.

Edited April 30, 2010 by Shuck.

[Billy.]

4 or 5! If only more [responsible] parents had the confidence and interest to give their kids pellet guns nowdays..

 

We'd have twice the numbers we do now.

 

I never had the chance to own a GAT, but my first was a G10 - I think part of the same family as the GAT though.. not a very good gun but damn fun for a kid and tens of hours fun to be had

 

People who had guns as kids always seem more safe and aware then anyone else, in some cases, moreso then fully certified and trained 'proffessionals' nowdays.

 

I know it was before my 6th birthday, because my mum's boyfriend had his brother come over and show off his new superbike (he was a racer) and he took me on it and he crashed, putting me in hospital for a week and fracturing my skull.

 

Following this they split up after my dad tried to kill him or something, so I know I was definitely that age.

 

It's probably that people who have guns at a younger age do all the stupid things with guns and then just treat them with respect after dong silly stuff years back!

[Shuck.]

****! That would be enough to put me off bikes indefinitly, I don't blame your old man either!

..was that why they bought you the almighty GAT, incase he came back

 

You may have a point about gun safety, I feel a poll coming on

[Dekers]

Owners or occupiers of land may be legally obliged to carry out rabbit control at any time of the year under the Pests Act 1954, the Agricultural Act 1947 and the Agricultural (Scotland) Act 1948. These are likely to apply where horticultural or agricultural crops require protection.

 

Worth a look through these if you get a bit of spare time.

 

There is nothing to stop you keeping a wild (European) rabbit as a pet.

 

There are potential problems if you ever release it, for the simple reason many landowners, etc, are legally bound to remove the rabbit from certain areas!

 

Although the European Rabbit is not an indigenous species, it doesn't appear to come under the same legislation as the Grey Squirrel!

 

Life gets very complicated sometimes!!

[Bleeh]

The only pest you can't release once captured is a squirrel, I think.

 

 

Incorrect.

 

It's illegal to re-release any Invasive alien species, such as Mink, (Grey) Squirrels (Though there is some law saying you can sometimes release them now, not sure on the details). Signal Creyfish, Etc Etc.