What’s everyone’s thoughts on rabbit numbers?

[Overlay]

Numbers are pretty steady hereabouts, not overrun but enough to keep the dogs in fine fettle with a decent bit of food,

you would be hard pushed to get a 50 + at the moment For a night out

 

[Steve123]

Hardly any around South Bristol, lucky to see one on several farms I visit. So much so I leave them alone to try and get the numbers up.

 

[User00025]

Loads here. Near Stamford Lincolnshire

You seem to get lots of everything that side of King Street. On our estate they have just started minor explosions on the ground between Greatford, Wilsthorpe and King Street. Had a few last night but need to get on top of them quickly.

 

[Brighty3006]

Fields behind me count probably 30 or 40 every morning on my dog walk. Always been here in the years I've lived here

 

[Dickie]

Nearly as rare as rocking horse

 

[waterford103]

Had a dozen just before xmas , nothing since , I'msurrounded by 400 acres and not one in sight , more hares than usual but I'm leaving them alone as usual.

 

[Tom D]

What rabbits?

 

[Whitester]

Numbers on my shoots have been going steadily down for the last four years. I have noticed a few more around this year but I have heard that there is a seven year cycle with rabbit numbers. Not sure how true that it but if the theory is correct numbers should start to rise in the next couple of years

 

[Tom D]

The population round here has crashed, it was fairly high in 2010 but nothing like the 80’s and 90’s. I haven’t shot one for years, when I do see them it’s a pleasant surprise. Hopefully one day they’ll recover. It’s not looking likely at the moment.

 

[HappyHunter]

Starting to see increased numbers here to the point they'll need looking at. Virtually nothing on the ground the two years previous though.

 

[foxhunter]

Just got in from walking a new patch of ground that had been requested to have a look at. Only a small piece of ground and a bit dubious about the report of lots of rabbits. Anyway I was pleasantly surprised seeing about 70 or 80 and shooting 14. A lot were in a neighbour's field but hopefully gain permission there too.

 

[Heym SR20]

Very few in the Lothians and Fife. 15 years ago you could shoot 20 or 30 in an hour long session. Now you probably only see 20 or 30 over the course of a year.

 

[waterford103]

Been out looking , in 400 acres only saw 4 at a distance , all the usual burrows are abandoned , grass growing at the entrances . I had 12 early December , none since !

 

[dm800]

2 nights out and hardly any about on 2 perms....really really dropped off

 

[reiver]

Very few in the Lothians and Fife. 15 years ago you could shoot 20 or 30 in an hour long session. Now you probably only see 20 or 30 over the course of a year.

It’s like that from Biggar all the way down to Lancashire right through Cumbria.The only bits of a strong hold seems to be on the fells towards the Pennines.
Mate nr Middleton - in -Teasdale has loads or had be for lockdown ?but all on the fell.

 

[VSS]

Seen a few on the hill in the past few days, which is encouraging, and on neighbouring farm. Still no sign of any on our lower ground, or in the previously densely populated areas.

 

[foxhunter]

Very few in the Lothians and Fife. 15 years ago you could shoot 20 or 30 in an hour long session. Now you probably only see 20 or 30 over the course of a year.

Its unbelievable what VHD has done to the rabbit population. Used to shoot thousands around Lauderdale in the 80s 90s 00s until the virus arrived. We still have numbers in Weardale and Teesdale fortunately but its bleak for a lot of the country.

 

[Andy-shooter]

They are bouncing back here (Suffolk). Last year I didn’t see a single one on our paddocks. This year, I see 5-10 if I look out at night with the thermal.

 

[John Wild]

I’ve been seeing a few recently, I work on the motorway at night and I’ve seen maybe a dozen or this week, in about a mile stretch of road. I’ve not seen any this close to home in years though so it’s looking up hopefully.

 

[zambezi]

Funny story: I got up at 02:30 yesterday to find myself a Roe buck. I spent 4 hours and I have no idea how many miles looking for one. Not ONE!

Rabbits? Rabbits???! I could have filled two rubble sacks with the chaps. Hey ho