Another sick question about rabbits

[newtron]

Here in the western US, I've been told that it is not wise to hunt rabbit during the Summer. Is this true?

[Quizmonster]

In Britain, we have a saying relating to oysters and rabbits to the effect that one should not eat them in any month which does not have a letter 'r' in it. Hence, May, June, July and August, the summer months, are a no-no!

[ALLO5775]

where in the us are u? i'm in de

[newtron]

I'm in New Mexico.

[ALLO5775]

cool. i love meeting new people from diff places.

[Clanad]

Actually,there's no problem in hunting the critters. It's just, as Q intimates, one doesn't want to eat them during warm weather months. At least here in the inter-mountain west, newtron (as I mentioned in earlier posts, we are about 900 miles north of you) the primary reasoning behind hunting and eating rabbits only in the cold weather months has to do with Tularemia. It's a disease carried by rabbits that is transmittable to man. Diagnosis is usually easy... the rabbit is listless and its fur is ragged looking. Additionally, the liver will have small but plentiful white spots. Such a rabbit should be disposed of immediately. The cold weather reference has to do with the fact that Tularemia is transmitted among rabbits and rabbit to other animals by fleas. After a good hard frost the flea problem is ended and it's rare to see a Tularemia infected rabbit in winter. Otherwise, they are excellent eating...

[garner]

Clanad..here in england we had a disease called myxomatosis a few years ago which almost wiped out our wild rabbits,many said farmers encourged it to get rid of them and did not kill the ones infected.Have you had anything similar in your part of the world?

[Clanad]

For reasons largely unknown, here in the U.S., wild rabbit populations, including the varities (about 5) of the Eastern Cottontail, appear to be relatively resistant to myxomatosis compared to domesticated rabbits, in which it is a constant concern.

Rather, cottontails appear to have a recurring seven year cycle that sees the population expanding and contracting. The cycle is largely dependant on the natural predators, especially the coyote here in the western part of the country. It is theorized a contributor to the great fluctuation (as much as 80% from high to low) is the previously mentioned Tularemia and other flea born diseases when the more dense populations are crowded into the same areas...

[garner]

Thanks for your info Clanad