Rabbit Problem

[Butterbun]

Any advice how to get rid of them from a garden? Daughter's place is getting overrun as she's just discovered another new litter of 8 in a large tub at the back of the house. There's another lot under the decking and although she has tried several deterrents, none seem to work. She doesn't have a cat or a dog.

[Tuvok]

Ferret?

Council?

[Tuvok]

Local Gamekeeper?

[barry1010]

Air rifle and in the pot. Legal and effective.

[woofgang]

you need fencing buried 3 foot in the ground all the way around to keep them out. getting rid of what is there will make no difference if she doesn't proof the garden.

[barry1010]

Good point.

[Chipchopper]

Rabbits seem to come and go around here, they reach a point where they become a common sight, then the fox's come into the area and the rabbit population starts to decline until you don't see them for ages.

[Butterbun]

Thanks for suggestions. digging 3 ft into ground isn't an option, She tried chicken wire around decking but they dug under it and got in, so it looks like a pest control person. Pity, as they look so fluffy and cute at this stage but the mum is overproducing at the moment. We've counted 19 so far.

[woofgang]

Butterbun, if she can't fence them out then they will come back.

[Spicerack]

If you didn't have rabbits under the decking, you'd probably have rats.
Somebody's kids on here hate rabbits. Invite them around for tea.

[Maydup]

We are in a similar position with rabbits where a deep fence is impossible and we have just had to get on and live with them. I have created a huge raised bed area with a wire fence above and I grow veg in there and the rest of the garden is down to lawn now as they eat anything else. I see rabbits in the gardens around us, down the lane and over in the fields, so I know that any money spent on dealing with them would be wasted as others would move in.

The only conciliation is that they will find their own population leveller. In a few days the babies will be old enough to move off and the garden will be left with a regular half dozen in residence.

[Old_Geezer]

Bait your traps with lettuce, then https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=TyeXXtTLOoLga7bnhMgJ&q=rabbit+recipes

[TheDevil]

Golf balls and a good aim.

[jourdain2]

Our problem is rats! Countryside/farmland/chickens etc. = rat's breeding like 'rabbits'?- or even rats. We have a terrier whose every instinct is to dig out and kill rats. Snag - I've re-planted wilting rhubarb twice and I need to get lettuce etc. planted very soon. Without keeping dog in house permanently (unfair) I'm stumped. We can't find anywhere to buy raticide - any ideas PLEASE? (Gardens either side have decking so that's where they are breeding.)

[Barmaid]

Butterbun - is there anyone near you would could bring round their ferrets?

[retrocop]

just to add to your woes jourdain I was reading an article by a American Boff who said a new breed of resilient,resourceful and sly super-rat will evolve from the current population. Due to less thrown out restaurant food etc they have turned to cannibalism and survival of the fittest. A new horror to look forward to! :-(

[retrocop]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-rats-lockdown-rodents-us-new-york-cannibalism-a9463281.html

[shoota]

Does your daughter live in or near 'the country' BB?
If so, the nearest farmer or keeper would probably have a contact with a team of ferreters or at least know of someone who does.
That would depend on the burrow under the decking being accessible in its entirety (they almost always have a sneaky back door away from the main entrance.)
If you can get the majority a full power .22 air rifle could deal with the remainder as and when they are spotted.

[shoota]

The farmer/keeper will also probably know a lad with an airgun who would oblige - from a good social distance of course...

[jourdain2]

Thanks, retrocop - really needed to know that!

[Old_Geezer]

So these super-rats are those most able to kill and eat other rats, thus keeping the rat population down ?

Every cloud...