rabbits and miximetoes (?)

[Horsewidow]

we have a plague of rabbits but I notice they are starting to wander about not seeing or hearing, although they are bloody pests, its seems they are suffering does anyone know what can be done?

 

[Eaglestone]

They will die a very slow and painfully sad death ..... it would be better to get someone to shoot them IMO .... sad really

Awful word to spell but 'tis .... Myxomatosis

 

[stencilface]

Or you can just bash them on the head with a shovel or similar, not nice, i know, but I don't have a gun

Mind you, can hardly ever bring myself to do it, just try and get them in my car if I'm driving

 

[kizzywiz]

Agree with above, they need to be despatched humanely asap.

 

[flyingfeet]

Nothing can be done, yes you can kill the ones hoping around, but your local foxes should take care of them.

Sadly if the rabbit popultion isn't controlled then they will always end up with this.

 

[Nailed]

they need shooting unfortunatly.. Such an awful disease.

Lou x

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

If you keep pet rabbits yourself, or you know of anyone in the area who does, be aware that myxomatosis is carried from rabbit to rabbit on rabbit fleas. That's why it can take hold so fast when the wild population rises unnaturally high. It is relatively easy for it to cross from the wild rabbit population to pet rabbits in rural areas. There is an immunisation that you can get for pet rabbits to prevent them getting this terrible disease x

 

[MurphysMinder]

A horrible disease, these poor animals do need dispatching as humanely as possible. Interestingly when my dogs catch myxi rabbits they are not very keen on eating them. Must have a strange taste to them.

 

[SunshineTallulah]

It seems that most fit and healthy wild rabbits will avoid capture by dogs, just the mixy ones that are all disorientated.

Horrible hearing a rabbit scream...... I didnt know they did til last week when a friends GSD got hold of a couple and killed them.

 

[squirtlysmum]

It can also be carried by mosquitos and is normally worse in spring and autumn so pet buns must be jabbed twice a year.
It is one of the most awful diseases and completely introduced by man initially in Australia and then over here but some buns become resistant to it.
One of my beautiful pet wabbits got a non lethal strain last year and was cover in scabs, mine are jabbed religiously, fortunatly he made a complete recovery and is back to being a little dude.
Just as an added extra not only do they scream but they can mumble and growl too!

 

[GinaB]

You could ask farmer or someone to shoot them for you. Best to put them out of their misery

 

[Donkeymad]

Hubby usually shoots them or, if he does not have his gun ready, sometimes a hefty,well aimed whack.

 

[hellybelly6]

Yep, as horrid as it sounds, shoot them. Its a nasty disease and a quick clean shot is the kindest thing for them.

We can go a few years without a case and then suddenly, like last year, there were dead and dying rabbits everywhere.

Its also worth saying that rabbits are not good to have in your fields as they make holes which horses can get theyr'e legs caught.