Wild Rabbits

[StevieBee]

Is it just me or does there seem to be a zillion times more of them about at the moment than normal?

Usual dog walks have always seen a fair few but just seems this year there's an infestation of them.

(Maldon, Danbury area if that means anything)

[Silvanus]

Where I am I hardly see any and nationally they are in decline due to a number of factors including myxomatosis. In some areas you seem to get an explosion in rabbit numbers only to be followed by a sudden and drastic decline.

[soad]

Seen plenty in the fields, out in the countryside. Not sure if they “pair up” as such, but always more than one.

Nearly ran one over last year, managed to avoid it though.

[paul.deitch]

Rabbits or here's? Auto correct striktes again. You know what I mean.

[165gt]

Millions of the buggers out my way at the moment, will generally see 6+ if I look out into the garden of an evening. They've ruined fields too with huge holes dug in the middle and not just on borders. Rifles, air rifles and ferrets on the go regularly at the moment. Anyone who lives in an area where there aren't many is welcome to come and take as many away as they like Seems weirdly localised though; guy up the road the other day was saying he hadn't seen any for ages

[Ziplobb]

There are more Fluffies than ever before
I know this because OI run a gunshop
airgun pellets and 22 rimfire ammo sales say there are more bunnies than ever on the Isle of Wight - I am looking out of the window as I type and there are 3 of the buggers in the lawn. Thats din dins sorted for Saturday evening.

[944 Man]

paul.deitch said:

Rabbits or here's? Auto correct striktes again. You know what I mean.

Here's are seldom seen in large numbers. They are a more solitary animal.

[Silvanus]

Ziplobb said:

There are more Fluffies than ever before
I know this because OI run a gunshop
airgun pellets and 22 rimfire ammo sales say there are more bunnies than ever on the Isle of Wight - I am looking out of the window as I type and there are 3 of the buggers in the lawn. Thats din dins sorted for Saturday evening.

there might be more than ever on the IOW but nationally they are in decline, whether that's a good or bad thing is all dependent on what you think of rabbits. Now deer on the other hand

[Funky Squirrel]

Not only rabbits, loads of deer about in Perthshire too. Driving on A9 at night time can be nerve wrecking!

[Silvanus]

Funky Squirrel said:

Not only rabbits, loads of deer about in Perthshire too. Driving on A9 at night time can be nerve wrecking!

I hope you're a funky Red squirrel and not a grey haha

[rallye101]

Odd little population of black ones here, seem to be roughly 80:20 mix of normal to blacks

[nute]

I’m constantly refilling holes in our garden as we seem to be overrun with them. Every couple of months I get up every hour or so over the course of a night to reduce the numbers as far as I can. Wife gets cross if I shoot the black ones though, so I have to go out and clear up before she gets up.

[abzmike]

5 years ago we were overrun. Looking out the window 10 or more were usually in view, driving up our track a herd would skedaddle in a panic when they saw the light coming, but numbers have dramatically declined. Now we have seemingly one small family, but far rarer than they were - perhaps a couple of harsh winters we had (not this year).

[Simpo Two]

nute said:

I’m constantly refilling holes in our garden as we seem to be overrun with them. Every couple of months I get up every hour or so over the course of a night to reduce the numbers as far as I can. Wife gets cross if I shoot the black ones though, so I have to go out and clear up before she gets up.

Selective evolution - the black ones get shot so only the brown ones go on to breed...

Wonder if black is a mutation or caused by a domestic bunny escaping to interbreed?

[Magnum 475]

I'm amazed that there are any cute fluffy bunnies left near me, based on the number of them that my cat has eaten.

For those with a rabbit problem, I recommend a couple of Siberian Forest Cats. Rabbits seem to be very appealing to them.

[popeyewhite]

Not noticed particularly any more rabbits this Spring, but must be more about now as we've had two prosecutions for poaching already.

[Last Visit]

Loads around my way (Suffolk).

One of my cats has just this evening tried to bring a baby rabbit into the house that was dangling from its mouth
Managed to free the poor thing which seemed unscathed and ran off back towards the fields. Not the first time the cat has done this, he doesnt seem to harm them and just wants to bring them home to show us.

[Driveeasy]

Our local market has a butcher with quite a number when in previous years it was hard to get hold of a bunny.

[Silvanus]

Driveeasy said:

Our local market has a butcher with quite a number when in previous years it was hard to get hold of a bunny.

What market is that, sounds good

[Mobile Chicane]

Rabbits breed year-round in mild winters like the one we've just had.

My cats are getting very fat as they love them.