Rabbit RVHD

[B&W FOX]

I've got rabbits dropping down dead above ground which is a bit of a shock.
I'm not sure which strain of RVHD they have but this is not looking good.

I've had a constant number for year's of 110 there or there abouts.
Every time I go in the fox box I do a head count with the thermal.
Last night I counted 63, and on shining a lamp around I noticed a few dead one's above ground.
I've never shot the rabbits as they are a good distraction for keeping foxes away from the chicken sheds and an awesome early warning system when a fox is about as they all go up on their hind legs and look in the direction of the fox.
The question is, the foxes will take the dead so will this spread to the foxes, and others that take carcasses, badgers, red kites etc ?
Could it devastate the fox population with vixens now below ground cubbing.

 

[VSS]

It's a horrible thing.
You can expect to be pretty much rabbitless for around 7 years after an outbreak. It takes that long for numbers to start to rebuild to a shootable level.
It doesn't spread to other species, although there have been some questions asked about hares.

 

[Siggy]

Sad to hear - rabbit numbers are just beginning to pick up around here (Essex/Cambs border)

 

[Buchan]

RHD/VHD is restricted to rabbits and hares.

 

[old keeper]

Rabbits locally have been struggling for years. As has been said, it takes several years for populations to recover from VHD; however, with mixy and the huge rise in the numbers of predators that feed on rabbits, it's been harder and harder for rabbits to make a sustained comeback. We have a few pockets of rabbits here, but they have had a real struggle for years.

 

[WW.]

Could always see if RVC/local APHA surveillance centre are interested in some fresh samples?

 

[Smellydog]

Absolutely abhorrent disease .
I'm sure forestry spread about some how.
Land I use to farm rabbits on has practically nothing now. Right next to a forest. Away from there they cling on.

 

[WalkedUp]

Awful, fingers crossed they recover. A reminder that we need to cull them harder on the syndicate this year. I firmly believe managing the numbers helps to minimise disease outbreaks. No evidence to support this.

 

[Cottis]

Awful, fingers crossed they recover. A reminder that we need to cull them harder on the syndicate this year. I firmly believe managing the numbers helps to minimise disease outbreaks. No evidence to support this.

My gut feeling has always been the opposite. About 10yrs ago, we had a lot of rabbits. I never shot them at night as I would just walk around on a summer evening with the .22LR and shoot 20 in 90mins without even trying to hide or be careful. I did this for about 2-3yrs and shot hundreds and hundreds and then VHD turned up and they were all gone.

Close by, the golf course has a massive head of rabbits and while the disease did knock many of them back, they seemed to get over it much more quickly and have always shown constant numbers compared to our own land.

I wondered whether higher numbers would mean some might develop resistance which potentially could be passed on.

Having said that, on the farm we had badgers and other predators whereas the golf course really only had foxes and a very comfortable habitat for them. Just better food and conditions overall I would say.

In any case, it is a horrible disease for them. I really like seeing rabbits. Yes they are destructive and often need controlling but I love seeing them out on a sunny evening. Just always seems like such a British thing in the countryside. Birds singing and Mr Fox doing the round as dusk approaches with bunnies hopping about everywhere and the young chasing each other.

 

[20-250]

It's a horrible thing.
You can expect to be pretty much rabbitless for around 7 years after an outbreak. It takes that long for numbers to start to rebuild to a shootable level.
It doesn't spread to other species, although there have been some questions asked about hares.

I'd say it's maybe double that, 14 years or so, since we had a harvestable surplus of rabbits here. VHD wiped them out seemingly overnight. At least the hares are here in good numbers

 

[Overlay]

Unfortunately there are still areas that haven’t recoverd, on a brighter side been out most nights since the rain subsided and plenty of good numbers of bolters showing with adults as well, all is not lost hopefully

 

[kieran222]

I think high density areas are more prone to disease. I have found that rabbit numbers can be low for a long time and then suddenly a significant increase in numbers and disease hits again (RHD/VHD/Mixy). It's probably better to manage numbers to keep them relatively low to prevent disease wiping them out.