Wild rabbit problem

tryingtobegreen

Jaggers ive got tears strolling down my face thats so funny
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

foreign_correspondent

Jaggers wrote: »

He clamped his teeth on my finger just behind the joint and really bit. Then started backing down the pipe wedging his paws in. He only stopped backing up when I was laid on the floor with my arm in the pipe to my shoulder. Tears were streaming down my face in front of 200 people! As I tried to work out how I was going to get my finger back the aforementioned lurcher decided that I was obviously playing around and started play fight with me..... I looked a real professional country man!!

Never again will I do a demo!!

That's briil - lovely mental picture!!

the worst bite I ever got was off a chuffing chipmunk!

When I was a wild animal keeper (zoo keeper) in my youth, I went to clean out the chipmunks. Getting in and out was a bit of an artform as they are so bl00dy fast and leap like loons. Anyway, as I went in, one of them spotted its opportunity and shot over my head and off to freedom.

I was panicking like mad, thinking, 'oh god, if I lose this they will sack me!!' I dashed out, slammed the door, and went off in hot pursuit, with a crowd of visitors as my audience. I tried to catch it several times, but it was just too fast, then it shot through a hedge and settled, still, on the tarmac on the other side. I seized my chance and chucked myself through the hedge after it, reaching out and grabbing the chipmunk with one hand as I landed in a heap, watched by a small crowd that had formed!

By this time I was really scratched and grazed, and feeling like a prat, but I tried to compose myself, got back to my feet, and started to walk back to the pen, trying for all the world to look cool and collected.

At that point, I felt something hot running down my arm, and I though it had peed on me - just as I became aware of a needle sharp pain in my finger - when I glanced down the bl00dy thing had its teeth through the tip of my fnger and there was blood running down my arm, and dripping off my elbow!

It's teeth stayed in my finger all the way back to the pen, (it felt like a very long walk, I can tell you!) as I dare not loosen my grip, and had to as I walk past a crowd of people to replace it in it's cage before I could go somewhere private and screech.

Oddly enough, I have never been fond of the creatures since!

Katharine

I love ferrrets but I have vowed never to keep them again until I can build fort knox for the little blighters. You can keep them for years when suddenly one night they decide they are off and nothing will stop them!

Not that I disbelieve you but it's strange for rabbits to only come at night, dawn and dusk is usuall, and there is such a thing as night vision scopes. There are people with air rifles who would love a rabbiting patch. The husband and I are currently attempting to make a dent in the zillions of rabbits at a local smallholding. We get a glass of wine as well. There is nothing to take your mind off your problems like snipeing rabbits IMO. Their friends lurcher catches quite a few but its not keen on coming home while it's on the job!

Jaggers_2

Katharine wrote: »

I love ferrrets but I have vowed never to keep them again until I can build fort knox for the little blighters. You can keep them for years when suddenly one night they decide they are off and nothing will stop them!

How true. Its like they form an escape party. I suspect they also dig routes Tom, !!!!!! and Harry!!

Funnily enough though, when mine do a runner they head for the house. The first I know of it is when one strolls in front of the TV in a devil may care manner or the dogs are looking a little narked because one is sitting in the dog bowl eating their food!!

I know what you say about dawn and dusk being prime times, but as the night gets deeper they stray further from their burrows, making the use of lurchers and lamps easier.

For a lot of allotments, I suspect the rabbits are coming from other peoples land. It might not be easy to get permission to clear these so the use of something like a longnet may be better. Now this is a real art form that is best done on a real dark windy/rainy night. I'm no expert at long nets but am gradually improving! Trying to get land to do it is quite hard.