Due to their considerable breeding rate, even in small numbers, rabbits can be difficult to control and if left unchecked can wipe out acres of crops such as barley, maize and wheat. Rabbits can cause major environmental problems as they compete with native fauna for habitat and food as well as bring about soil erosion.
As agricultural pests, rabbits are in direct competition with livestock for pasture and end up eating a lot of food that's not intended for them. Their burrowing can cause extensive damage on erosion-prone soil – sometimes causing land to eventually be rendered useless where a living can't be made on it, but rabbit pest control can help prevent this serious result.
In regions of England and Wales (except for the City of London, the Isles of Scilly and Skokholm Island), every land owner is responsible for controlling wild rabbits on their land either by themselves or by hiring rabbit pest control professionals. If this is not possible, occupiers of land have an ongoing obligation for taking steps to prevent rabbits from causing damage to nearby crops by putting up fencing as a rabbit pest control method.
Electric netting, electric strained wire (similar to the kind used to manage sheep and cattle) and permanent wire-mesh netting are all types of fencing that help restrict rabbits from wiping out nearby crops and pasture.
There could be restrictions to the fencing a land occupier can put up depending on whether it has environmental, monumental or archaeological interest, so this should be checked ahead of putting up any of the fences as a rabbit pest control method.
Traps and snares can be used as a rabbit pest control method, however, it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to rabbits that have been caught in a trap or snare. Cage, drop box or spring traps can be used as a rabbit pest control method, but the following must be adhered to:
Traps and snares cannot be placed where the rabbits will be exposed to severe weather or near a fox or badger sett. Self-locking snares must also not be used as a rabbit pest control method.
If you are the occupier of the land, you can shoot the rabbits during the day and can authorise in writing one other person to do so. That person must be part of your household, one of your staff, or be employed for reward to specifically control the rabbits. You can shoot rabbits at night only if you are:
Ferrets can be used as a rabbit pest control method by sending them into the burrow system, the rabbits are driven into nets, which are placed over the entrances or to waiting guns as they exit the tunnel entrances.
Another rabbit pest control method is controlling them with gas. Only someone trained in the use of gassing products should carry out this method, who should also follow Health and Safety Executive information - provided here.
These rabbit pest control methods can be used on both domestic and agricultural land but professional rabbit pest control intervention is usually recommended. This is because the best course of action for the most appropriate rabbit pest control method is proposed based on your specific situation.
Get in touch with AJ Pest Control and we'll carry out a detailed inspection of your property and occupied land to assess the degree of the problem and recommend the most appropriate rabbit pest control methods. We'll also provide recommendations and advice for preventing rabbits and the need for professional rabbit pest control in the future.
