Consistently low numbers of rabbits this year

[Bobtheferret 1,248]

I agree with pretty much everything written here and feel that overwhelmingly the issue is RVHD2 as the original was around in the 90’s and it was the introduction of the second version that caused the plummet in rabbit numbers. The promising thing is compared to mixi in the 50’s more rabbits have survived so hopefully recovery will be quicker. What I can’t get my head round is areas are so different in terms of how they are affected. Areas of the country seemingly still unaffected and others wiped out. I have permission that within the farm or even fields it has had different effects on rabbits. Why is this? I don’t know. Small genetic differences is all I can think that have a huge difference on how lethal the disease is when infected. 
On a different note I have noticed a farm I have permission on this year in which numbers have actually picked up a little and the only change is the farm has made a real effort on drainage. Cleared and added some ditches which has meant warrens are a lot less susceptible to flooding meaning the rabbits have a better chance of the young surviving and a better place to avoid the wet/cold weather over winter. Maybe just coincidence as have permission on some bone dry chalk warrens that seem to get deader every season. 

[Whoknows 163]

One thing which folk often forget is that rabbits can suffer quite badly from worms, fluke; ticks etc. normally the cold winter kills a lot of that stuff off, but we don’t have many frosts now. 

[Aussie Whip 4,098]

On 29/12/2023 at 05:40, Luckee legs said:

Fair points. Badgers in east Anglia have become incredibly common, even 40 years ago they just weren't in evidence and today they are everywhere. I hadn't thought about foot traffic, that has gone up a lot and also plenty of new build houses in our area with lots of cats, I lost a ferret this year and looking for it around our village at dawn and dusk I was amazed by the numbers of cats. Deer certainly cope better, muntjac are a massive pain for me as my dogs are mad for them

I think feral cats are another big threat to the rabbits on top of disease, viruses, natural predators. My farm cats would each catch a rabbit a day most days just ambushing the tunnels in the blackberries. I think human hunters and dogs are only a minor threat. Cats leave dogs in the dust as hunters.

[Black neck 15,950]

15 minutes ago, Aussie Whip said:

I think feral cats are another big threat to the rabbits on top of disease, viruses, natural predators. My farm cats would each catch a rabbit a day most days just ambushing the tunnels in the blackberries. I think human hunters and dogs are only a minor threat. Cats leave dogs in the dust as hunters.

Even on the slop ?

[Aussie Whip 4,098]

13 hours ago, Black neck said:

Even on the slop ?

No, Snappy Tom.

[keepdiggin 9,561]

On 01/01/2024 at 22:17, Aussie Whip said:

I think feral cats are another big threat to the rabbits on top of disease, viruses, natural predators. My farm cats would each catch a rabbit a day most days just ambushing the tunnels in the blackberries. I think human hunters and dogs are only a minor threat. Cats leave dogs in the dust as hunters.

A dog can kill loads more rabbits in one sitting then a cat surely?

[Black neck 15,950]

1 hour ago, keepdiggin said:

A dog can kill loads more rabbits in one sitting then a cat surely?

It's best not 2 work your best ferreting cat wi your dog ,can cause problems 

[Borr 6,005]

YouTube rabbit hole, saw something in Australia about myxi , vhd and now they're using a Korean bio weapon called k5 ? Anyone heard of it? Apparently all these diseases still maintain about 300 million bunnies in Australia....

[Penda 3,341]

14 hours ago, Black neck said:

It's best not 2 work your best ferreting cat wi your dog ,can cause problems 

I remember when I have a good line of well bred moggys tabby in colour wi a slight white blaze to the neck they were good on the fen wicked round and rabbit hole I even took fallow roe and red stags with thsea feline friends but alas there was no market for these creatures and no pretty penny to be made so bargain paged the lot and dragon drived what wouldn't shift and put them down  as chancey pussys forsale 

[Black neck 15,950]

6 minutes ago, Penda said:

I remember when I have a good line of well bred moggys tabby in colour wi a slight white blaze to the neck they were good on the fen wicked round and rabbit hole I even took fallow roe and red stags with thsea feline friends but alas there was no market for these creatures and no pretty penny to be made so bargain paged the lot and dragon drived what wouldn't shift and put them down  as chancey pussys forsale 

Wtf

[Penda 3,341]

1 hour ago, Black neck said:

Wtf

Acid took me here 

[shaaark 10,776]

On 04/01/2024 at 06:03, Penda said:

I remember when I have a good line of well bred moggys tabby in colour wi a slight white blaze to the neck they were good on the fen wicked round and rabbit hole I even took fallow roe and red stags with thsea feline friends but alas there was no market for these creatures and no pretty penny to be made so bargain paged the lot and dragon drived what wouldn't shift and put them down  as chancey pussys forsale 

A lesson learned, and knowledge gained, on the path to enlightenment, oh seeker of knowledge. 

[Luckee legs 471]

On 03/01/2024 at 15:05, Black neck said:

It's best not 2 work your best ferreting cat wi your dog ,can cause problems 

Most days I wish my collie x was as driven with rabbits as he is with cats and muntjac. He has an 11 out of 10 setting when a cat appears 

[Black neck 15,950]

3 hours ago, Luckee legs said:

Most days I wish my collie x was as driven with rabbits as he is with cats and muntjac. He has an 11 out of 10 setting when a cat appears 

They always pop up where the got no business 2 be 

[Penda 3,341]

2 hours ago, Black neck said:

They always pop up where the got no business 2 be 

Alas just like the mrs