Rabbits

[Spookyville]

Not the pet ones but wild annoying destructive ones! Has anyone had any dealings with their local council in relation to rabbit infestations on their site? Its in the middle of the city so not a rural setting. Looking at the Pest Act etc it would seem the council have a duty of care to act and have spoken to Natural England on the phone and accordgin to them if the council are unwilling to do anything the plot holders can legally act.

I have yet to received a reply from the council to my written enquiry but another plot holder spoke with them and was told the council wouldn't do anything and we were not allowed to trap/kill any either  and that they would contact the RSPCA.

So any other information out there from plot holders with similar issues? tia.

[Spookyville]

[Hi_Hoe]

Councils are full of shullbit! By that logic you wouldnt be allowed to squash a slug, or trap a rat etc...where would it stop??. If i were you i'd be trapping every bunny you can and putting em in the pot!! I doubt the RSPCA would be interested either, as they wouldnt have the time/ resources to mount full on trapping regime - after all theyre not exactly an endagered species!! -  As it goes ,Im still waiting to hear from them (RSPCA) after oh lets see....all of five months!! so the'rey clearly not bothered!

Im sure those bunnies are causing you a headache, but id see this as an opportunity to aquire some delicious free meat!!!

[davyw1]

Unfortunately the council don't have to do anything as far as allotments are concerned as it is considered that the damage they cause does not warrent it.

Providing that rabbits are killed humanly which in the eyes of  the law means they do not suffer and you are the occupier of the land then you can lawfully kill them.
How you want to kill them or iff you want to should be considdered very seriously as most traps will kill or maim other wild life and pets.

One of the best traps is a Drop Trap, if you are handy at woodwork and can dig a hole then you have fresh meat.

[Digeroo]

Having a lot of problems with them.  Luckily we are on a private site I think several of found themselves in a bit of stew last week.

But cannot get rid of the pheasants at the moment.

[petefj]

My Allotment Society in North Cornwall is having an identical problem with the Council who insist that rabbits are cuddly little creatures and if humanely trapped must be released unharmed into the country.

The Council are full of $%&*@it, and their suggestion is contrary to the law,  and I believe the person doing this could lend themselves liable to prosecution.

The law is quite clear on the matter of rabbits.  If you've got 'em, then get the local Rabbit Society in and they'll clear them out for you.

Peter

[Spookyville]

Just an update for this.

Spoke to the Allotments office over the phone myself a couple of weeks ago now. Was told by the assistant she would raise it with her superior the allotment officer and call me back on my mobile with an update. No call came.
Called again this morning and spoke to the allotments officer herself. Was told they need to have a meeting to discuss options. In the fobbing off I got rabbit proof fence was mentioned and also lack of money and not any cheap options. When pushed was told that a clearer picture would be known by the end of the week and I would call back then for an update. Not expecting much, but going to keep pushing them. Depending on what is said on Friday it may be time to raise the formal complaint against them. We'll see.

Have also fired off a foia request for a breakdown of their depts budget for the last 6 years so can see what they have wasted their money on!

[Spookyville]

FOI request is processing - should have results by June 18th. Which is good.

As for Allotments Dept - called the number and it rung out. Called the assistants number straight after and was answered but said the allotments officer was on the phone. Explained they were supposed to have a meeting this week and have an update on me when I called today. Took my mobile number and promised a callback. 30 mins later called back and was told the allotments officer was having to leave the office for an emergency and would call me on my mobile on Tuesday.  Roll on the next episode!

[planetearth]

Buy a squirrel trap.  £8, problem solved.

I also protect-spray my veg seedlings with chilli water - it works too.

[planetearth]

Chilli water failed!

Even repeat doses failed.  The critters even ate rhubarb leaves!

Only trapping has worked and the most successful trap was a squirrel trap (magpie trap came second).

[Spookyville]

council still not done anything or got back to me over this. However problem now solved itself (hopefully) as a fox and her cubs have been spooted on the site and the rabbits have suddenly disappeared.

[goodlife]

There was a time when rabbits were seen on our site...and then came foxes and rabbits were no more. Now there is very few left of those members who do remember the 'rabbit era'..but when the 'fox issue' is raised in AGM and people moan about them...all that is needed to say is  'do rather have rabbits?'. That always shut the moaners up...
I hope the fox family will live and prosper on your site and enjoy all their rabbit dinners.

[Digeroo]

Cannot understand the hate of foxes.  Apparently they are currently keeping us rabbit at the moment.

[davyw1]

The only problem with the fox is if you have hens. if the get in the pen then the will kill every hen just to take one.
I lost every hen two year ago to a fox bet hey, they have to feed their young and i cant blame the fox for me not making the fence secure.

Dont get complacent about the rabits as the foxes will move on or be killed by somes ones dog or just some one who for no reason wants it dead.

[ancellsfarmer]

The only problem with the fox is if you have hens. if the get in the pen then the will kill every hen just to take one.
I lost every hen two year ago to a fox bet hey, they have to feed their young and i cant blame the fox for me not making the fence secure.

Dont get complacent about the rabits as the foxes will move on or be killed by somes ones dog or just some one who for no reason wants it dead.

The urban fox should be discouraged..If the supply of rabbits dwindles , the next meal will likely be a cat. Hundreds of cats "dissappear " weekly. This causes much hurt to their owners. Only when more infants are attacked will the public at large realise the true concern of "taming " feral wild animals. The only real defence from wild rabbits entering cultivated ground is to properly fence using  30"wire netting of 1.25" mesh,dug in and turned out, with straining posts n the INSIDE. It is the cost of this which is making your council tread water, hoping you lose interest.