Guest Ditch_Shitter Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I specifie 'Annecdotes' as I'm not interested in anyone being so stupid as to incriminate themselves over this broadly illegal activity. Nor am I interested in anyone trying to read me, or anyone else, the riot - or Pest - act over it. So let's just keep it on the pub talk level. I'll give ye an example by way of kicking it off: Decades ago now, a mate of mine hatched this fiendish plot to populate a small island with rabbits. Obviously, he figured this would provide him with his own little honey pot. Only he'd realise they were out there so only he would be slipping out there to harvest them. Best of all, he hoped to keep myxi at bay amongst his personal herd. It never happened. Despite the habitat seeming fine, to his experienced eye, for the support of rabbits. And despite his delivering several sack loads of suitable gender mixes. They just dwindled away and vanished as fast as he released them. He never worked out why. I can personally only guess that they just swam back home - or perished in some effort at so doing. What do You think? More to the point; Has any one ever heard of similar such ventures? Someone did it in england, all those centuries ago. It seems to have done the trick in Australia Anyone got any insights on the smaller scale? What does happen if someone catches a dozen rabbits in one place and drops them off in another ~ maybe a place long since decimated by myxi or what ever, but now seemingly fully fit to hold bun's again? This could prove damn interesting, if we just Think before we crash those keys Remember, folks; If ye did such stuff " Pre Ban ", ye really too f*cking old to be trusted to talk sense any more. OK? Let's keep it 'I heard, from a friend of a friends uncles dad' and it can all remain sweet. Fire away, gentlemen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cúagusgiorraí 57 Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 The only thing I can think of is a local fella, who has a few petshop bunnies for his daughter. He leaves his gate open and the rabbits have free range of the whole garden. His pet sheepdog guards them at night. No one or thing can get close to those bunnies, because Shep is protecting her 'babies'. Well the rabbits are breeding like mad and have spread into the fields all around. I have found an offspring of his stock a half a km away. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dogs-n-natives 1,182 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Well unless the island is tiny, they should stay. I have some 'anecdotes' about moving some rabbits to areas which was un-populated, they (or probably, descendents of them) are still there, and now in much bigger numbers. But to heft them to the chosen place they were put down holes when released, also some of the released were young. In some cases old rabbit holes, but often dry land drains or rock piles will do for them at first. After a while the rabbits start to dig their own warrens. Areas must have diggable, free draining soil, acsessable grazing all year round. So ive heard... Cant be sure how the rabbits on the island dissapeared, maybe their still there? Maybe they have been preyed upon? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jack_russels. 6 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 ditch i do a lot of ferreting in the season and 70% get realised to different land we started about 4 year ago had a few problems with other hunters and mixy this year is great sofar they have trebled in numbers and have moved about 8 miles from where we realised them we only no this as there were no rabbits in this area for nearly 15 years so mabey the rabbits in question have moved on to a different area on the island Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SEAN3513 7 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 when rabbits where first introduced into this country they where farmed for approx 250/300 years controlled by keeping them in pens/runs/enclosures etc...................is this happening now?????? for the hunters benefit?? interesting as always ditch!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anton 0 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 thought about this last year after getting asked if i could supply rabbits (live) for export to a certain country for falconry my plan was along the lines of "farming" inside in cages semi open runs etc things really did start to get serious "this time next year we will all be millionares rodders" but, the guy involved pulled out because of import/export restrictions or something off thread a bit ... i think fibonaci based his number theory on a pair of breeding rabbits ? anyone cheers anton Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ocs1867 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 The only thing I can think of is a local fella, who has a few petshop bunnies for his daughter. He leaves his gate open and the rabbits have free range of the whole garden. His pet sheepdog guards them at night. No one or thing can get close to those bunnies, because Shep is protecting her 'babies'. Well the rabbits are breeding like mad and have spread into the fields all around. I have found an offspring of his stock a half a km away. Get a Staffy to take care of the gaurd dog then let the lurchers in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cúagusgiorraí 57 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 (edited) The only thing I can think of is a local fella, who has a few petshop bunnies for his daughter. He leaves his gate open and the rabbits have free range of the whole garden. His pet sheepdog guards them at night. No one or thing can get close to those bunnies, because Shep is protecting her 'babies'. Well the rabbits are breeding like mad and have spread into the fields all around. I have found an offspring of his stock a half a km away. Get a Staffy to take care of the gaurd dog then let the lurchers in. I hope you are joking. I know some lads who would probably try that as well. Set the staff on the sheepdog and kill a few family pets. It happens all the time in my town. If you have a litter of kittens and you live in my nearest shanty town estate, dont let them out of your sight. They would to be crunched up by some hoodies dog. Dont let you pet dogs out either, they will be either stolen or have a pit set on them while the owner relishes at the sight. Edited May 22, 2008 by cúagusgiorraà Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sandymere 8,263 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Myxi is mainly spread by fleas in britain so high numbers of rabbits mean greater contact with others so alowing easier spread of fleas and so the disease. As to introducing rabbits or eny other species if the habitat is not right they won't thrive and maybe thats why there not there in the first place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ocs1867 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 The only thing I can think of is a local fella, who has a few petshop bunnies for his daughter. He leaves his gate open and the rabbits have free range of the whole garden. His pet sheepdog guards them at night. No one or thing can get close to those bunnies, because Shep is protecting her 'babies'. Well the rabbits are breeding like mad and have spread into the fields all around. I have found an offspring of his stock a half a km away. Get a Staffy to take care of the gaurd dog then let the lurchers in. I hope you are joking. I know some lads who would probably try that as well. Set the staff on the sheepdog and kill a few family pets. It happens all the time in my town. If you have a litter of kittens and you live in my nearest shanty town estate, dont let them out of your sight. They would to be crunched up by some hoodies dog. Dont let you pet dogs out either, they will be either stolen or have a pit set on them while the owner relishes at the sight. I was joking pal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john b 38 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Not anecdote DS but scientific fact, theres a book you might like to get hold of called 'The Private Life of the Rabbit' by R.M Lockley. It's a bit dry in places but details an experiment in 1965 to study the impact of myxi. The reason I mention it is that the local rabbits died out before they could get the study going so they took rabbits from a few 'clean' areas and created a brand new colony from scratch. During the following weeks and months they buggered about allowing access to new areas, removing dominant males etc. Sounds just what you're looking for ....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paddy.t 8 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 buy a gun and a lamp and shoot like mad then if he comes out run like hell! lol Works for me Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trappa 518 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 A neighbours 2 guineau pigs esgaped and were living quite happily for a whole year in our back gardens. They were both female so "someone" decided to buy a couple of males and see what happened. They got on ok it seemed but then dissapeared for a few months. I thought a cat had killed them but my daughters friend was walking up to see her and she aid that something was in the road down the street. I went down and lo and behold it was one of the guinea pigs BUT one of its eyes was missing and there was maggots in its place so i humanely killed it. Never found out about the other 3 but , because the 2 females survived a winter alone , theres a slim chance the 3 are out there somewhere, possibly with more now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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