Rabbit numbers still low

[Guest cookiemonsterandmerlin]

Seems to be boom round here but it varies so much accross the country we are blessed with high numbers with low hunter numbers.

Areas devoid of coneys 10 years back now full and tother way round .

I always notice a boom in numbers in dry years for a reason I dont know.

 

ATB Cookie

[The one 8,595]

I was out tonight and there' s plenty rabbits and even more deer

[BEARINATOR 2,924]

Plenty up here Rob

[rob190364 2,594]

just got back in after a 2 hour walk, saw 1 fox and about 4 or 5 bunnies...none of which were young.

Edited May 17, 2012 by rob190364

["Earth!" 503]

Plenty up here Rob

And here . had some welsh lads up a fortnight ago to help on a rabbit job, they left after 6 hours with 53, all ferreted into purse nets and not touched the place..

[oakey 57]

It's shit round here for miles and mles, work hard all day with the dogs hunting like mad for 6-12 a day on average, and we rarely find more than one in any one set, even if it's 30/40 holes.

Just got back with the dog after a nice walk round . Been thinking about the rabbit numbers and the fact that there seems to be one in every bury . Could it be that the rabbits have learnt that to live together in large numbers spreads mixy and so have decided to live alone ?

[Moll. 1,793]

Logically, if you are used to ferreting 30's/40's then it will eventually take it's toll on the population, you cannot keep taking without it having consequences on numbers in later years.

The farm i live on, never had big numbers when i moved here, i think the most i would get in one night would be 6, then over about 2-3yrs i just kept at them, taking 1 or 2 a week if i was lucky. Now there is not one single rabbit here. Nothing to do with RHD or mixy, just slowly wiped them out. And boy do i regret it now!

People need to hunt in moderation (If it is not actual pest control) instead of going for big numbers all the time, use your head and be satisfied with say a couple of hours ferreting, or a certain amount.

 

One thing i have noticed living here Rob, if you are walking the same route most days with your dog, wildlife seem to decide it is too hot to stay there and move away, so this could be the reason you are not seeing as many. I noticed this here. When i first moved here it was not unusual to see double numbers of hares in one field at night, spot them out boxing etc during the day. Then they dwindled away and i now very rarely see any. But when we are lambing, certain fields i have to stay out of for a couple of weeks, when i start walking them again, i get to see hares again for a while, till they leave again.

[bendrover 556]

couple of times a season,when the grounds too hard for running dogs i ferret a dozen or so rabbits take them to areas local to me that were devoid of them and release.ive been doing that for a couple of years now and its great seeing them doing so well when out walking the dogs in the summer evenings.we can all do our bit.BUT imo,dont let any go in areas where rabbits are,only release where there have been none.theres always the chance of infecting a perfectly healthy population with rhd or mixy.atb Benny.