spandit Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/28/hope-rabbit-hotels-can-help-britains-decimated-population-bounce-back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 I saw a few hedgerows with plenty of digging and few rabbits in them the other day, made me smile, years ago I'd have been looking for the farmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 Spent a lifetime trying to wipe them out, never thought I would succeed. I am feeling more and more that I am from a different world, here we are building "hotels" in order to encourage rabbits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 I would never want to wipe out any native, or rather established, species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 10 minutes ago, 39TDS said: am feeling more and more that I am from a different world, here we are building "hotels" in order to encourage rabbits But would you want to see them gone? They are a really rare sight these days in Lancashire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agriv8 Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 I see more hares than rabbits these days ! Only really big numbers are on the abandoned golf course ! Agriv8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Rabbits have all but gone on my perms to the point I've been saving fuel and letting them rest from last autumn till early this summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 Well i did find that article interesting. I've seen 1 rabbit all winter, and we saw it on Sunday whilst walking the dog, in the same field last summer i saw 3 there. They are the only rabbits i've seen around here in West Wales since pre covid. If i ever saw one whilst out shooting, i'd leave it alone. Boy do i miss hunting in the late summer along hedgerows with my air rifle. Picking "one for the pot" from the half a dozen that are along the hedgerow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 On 08/02/2022 at 17:25, 39TDS said: Spent a lifetime trying to wipe them out, never thought I would succeed. I am feeling more and more that I am from a different world, here we are building "hotels" in order to encourage rabbits. You didn’t succeed. VHD did Driving last night my Mrs said to me to put the bunny dazzlers on (main beam), I replied what’s the point, there are not any bunnies. where I live there are still a few, one or two. Here and there, but no major populations any longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 11 hours ago, scolopax said: You didn’t succeed. VHD did Driving last night my Mrs said to me to put the bunny dazzlers on (main beam), I replied what’s the point, there are not any bunnies. where I live there are still a few, one or two. Here and there, but no major populations any longer. Of course I didn't succeed, didn't succeed on my own patch never mind anywhere else. I still have rabbits and they still eat my apple trees but I haven't shot one for a long time, might even be 2 years. Last year they built up to be quite numerous and above the levels at which I would cull normally. I still didn't shoot any as they don't matter as much as they used to. There are a small number around at the moment, the most noticeable thing is I have not seen any of this years young where I would have expected to at least a few weeks back. There is a buzzard on patrol though so maybe that is keeping them out of sight. I am pretty confident VHD was present this time last year as I saw quite a few dead rabbits with no other obvious explanation. It hasn't wiped them out though, just like myxy didn't and just like I didn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted February 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2022 I imagine with the rate they normally breed, there is likely to be growing immunity to VHD and populations will recover in time, although not immediately. Still seeing them on the trailcam here but haven't seen one with my own eyes for a while, I admit. I have plenty of places they could shelter from aerial predators should they so wish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbower Posted February 14, 2022 Report Share Posted February 14, 2022 Isolated pockets of them in North Cheshire , I wont shoot them any more . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 14, 2022 Report Share Posted February 14, 2022 Loads and loads of rabbits locally. Even though they’re not indigenous I wouldn’t want to see them eradicated as I thoroughly enjoy hunting them. Strange, really, but on the West coast ( Workington etc ) they don’t have rabbits at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted February 14, 2022 Report Share Posted February 14, 2022 Lots of trial lads moaning about the loss of rabbits on massive estates. Even some of the rabbit heart lands where they used to shoot 100+ walked up over dogs have no rabbits left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted February 14, 2022 Report Share Posted February 14, 2022 Must say my rifles have stayed in the cabinet for 18 months I think. I will have a few in the spring, to keep the farmer happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted February 14, 2022 Report Share Posted February 14, 2022 Someone recently told me a rifle got removed for insufficient bullet purchase - that was from a friend of a friend so may or may not be the whole story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 14, 2022 Report Share Posted February 14, 2022 (edited) 59 minutes ago, Dave-G said: Someone recently told me a rifle got removed for insufficient bullet purchase - that was from a friend of a friend so may or may not be the whole story. Not sure how that would work really, unless the maximum you were authorised to possess was a box of 25 and you hadn’t bought any for about ten years, but you never know. Edited February 14, 2022 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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