is the humble bunny in decline

New Avon Arms
You may not conserve some breeding stock, but I do, it makes no difference, I still don't have any to shoot.
I have 4 areas in and around lakes that have always held bunnies that live full time within the the perimeter fences, all gone now.
Two areas still hold a few, they are both islands with no bridges but plenty of food, I may even start to feed them :oops:

Neil. :)
 
Wet summers and wet winters. We've been trying to eradicate them for 600 years and haven't managed it yet. They'll bounce back. Already started here by the looks. I've got them showing well in a couple of places on my ground after a barren autumn and winter. I'm finding pregnant does and 3/4 grown youngsters. Not big numbers but healthy. The fact that they're turning up in different places does suggest migration from diseased burrows. Anyway, I'm back on patrol again, but my shooting has slipped a bit. Takes its toll these lie-ups.
 
10 years ago I could shoot double figures any night I went out, these days I'm pleased with anything above 2!!!

I think we all know road verges where we wish we could shoot - I've noticed on the roads I regularly drive that there are far less bunnys everywhere... so yes I think they are on the decline!

If it makes you all feel better though, Rabbits are actually an introduced species - they were imported from Spain by the Romans 2000 years ago as food for the peasants!
 
Fingers crossed that 2013 will be a better year for the humble bunny, I can't imagine life without them, how sad is that ya all.
 
After two years of very large numbers of rabbits myxi and VHD came through and really knocked them sideways. That plus the weather made this the worst ferreting season in years. However a few trips out with the thermal imager showed there to be a good stock left around and already there are young rabbits showing up. I guess this will be the last outing with the ferrets this season.
If the rabbit population drops to a very low level the natural predators, foxes, buzzards, stoats etc: and especially badgers will keep the stock to very low numbers.
Having lived through pre myxi days and having seen 98% of all rabbits wiped out I am sure the rabbit will be here for a few years yet.
I suspect the particualrly high losses to disease last year were due to a combination of factors, High population, wet conditions with lots of mosquitos and biting insects to spread the disease.
 
My local rabbit population seemed to peak around august 2012 but the population has been declining rapidly since then. Not that many around here at the moment.
 
We got rid of our ferrets. Just wasn't the work for them. Bunnys in decline here for sure
 
The farmers, of course, see it a little differently..
We have record numbers of buzzards here, and barn owls after a program of nest box building. Don't know if barn owls take juveniles. I know tawnys do I've watched them doing it.
We got a few rabbits round the farm buildings and in the drainage pit. Its very awkward to ferret and difficult to shoot as a right of way passes through the farm. There is a fox earth in a nearby spinney and the dog has got very skilled at taking rabbits from around the buildings. Most nights I'm out there there'll be a squeal and checking with the night vision, there he is trotting across the field with another rabbit in his mouth. I'm in two minds whether to leave him to get on with it. Trouble is I expect he's got a vixen. It would be nice to get a shot at her before she drops her cubs and leave the dog alone. Never seems to work like that though... :???:
 
Numbers are right down here.In fact the farmer on one of my permissions where i used to shoot hundreds has said he`ll let me know when sees any.Another couple of farms covering about 700 acres, i shot 16 on a drive round last harvest.Both have previously seen good nights of 75-100 shot on a couple of hours drive around.Quite regularly too.
I`m not convinced that the wet weather has much to do with it.Rabbits only burrow in areas with good drainage,banks,slopes , with loose sandy soil,chalk downland etc.
I think its mixy and vhd that has killed them off.Not helped by the amount of buzzards around, collecting up the survivors.
I`ve had a brick of .22 in my safe unopened for maybe eight months.I`d get through that in a month a few years back.If it wasnt for the fact it is so wet i`d have plinked them off just to prove i am buying ammo, and can justify the calibre.
A walk with the dogs, and a check of holes for activity, turds etc, reveals not a lot.There are a shedload of hares about.Although lagomorphs too, they dont appear effected.
I really hope they recover and i start getting phonecalls again.It was pressure at the time, but now i miss it.
 
My permissions seem to reflect the drop over the period also. I shot a few that were in really poor condition and stinking like rotting flesh last autumn.

The hare numbers however seem to be growing.
 
What is a rabbit, endagered species around me. Numbers down by 99%, lucky to see a couple in an evenings lamping.

D
 
I haven't seen any on my ground for months , I know there are a couple here and there but they are rare , what I have noticed is the dramatic increase in buzzard numbers but not sure if its part of the declining rabbit population or if its down to extremely wet weather over the last couple of years.
 
Same here, my permissions round Bridgenorth over towards Ludlow have dropped loads. If I used to go out flying the Hawks, they'd get confused which one to chase on the lamp cos there were so many. Ended up having to get a 22 to get them in the freezer as I was worried bout the farmers getting someone else in. Going out recently is nowhere near as fruitful, you might get the odd one or two.
 
JoeH said:
Same here, my permissions round Bridgenorth over towards Ludlow have dropped loads. If I used to go out flying the Hawks, they'd get confused which one to chase on the lamp cos there were so many. Ended up having to get a 22 to get them in the freezer as I was worried bout the farmers getting someone else in. Going out recently is nowhere near as fruitful, you might get the odd one or two.
Click to expand...
Still enough around here to get 15 or so in a night, but, that's down from 150+ a night. There are lots of buzzards about, lots of Charlie too, but I remember the week vhd hit here, went from seeing loads in the morning on the ranges to next to nothing in about 4-5 days, thankfully it doesn't affect the very young, so there was a small stock to keep them from disappearing completely, but I'd estimate the population is only about 10% of what it was 2 years ago

Pete
 
A mixture of VHD, Myxi and hard winters [snow + rain] have brought numbers right down here.

This area once harvested 1000s, I've not shot one in 4 seasons!

But, they can easily turn around!!

Pred numbers won't deplete numbers, although they may keep them down once they are at a low level.

Remember the Rabbit Act

It is a shame not to have many rabbits about, more for the young lads as it's a great way to cut your teeth. BUT lets not look at it through rose tinted glasses, agriculture is having a hard enough time at the moment and grain prices are high enough as it is. I can remember employing full time employees at much cost and not getting on top of numbers, a very expensive business for all involved.
 
not many to be seen here in n. ireland-well at least not near me. haven't seen a mixy rabbit in over 15 years and one of the farms i shoot over had a real rabbit problem in the spring of 2011 after 2 severve winters - one with temperature below freezing for 11+ days. must be vhd as apparantely, the sick animals do not feed and hole up to die underground unlike mixy victims which will still try to feed.

anybody know of any official - government or vetinary -bodies looking at this?
 
there's been a noticeable lack in my neck of the woods since summer last year. seen one or two with mixi, but next to sod all healthy adults-at night and during the day.
 
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