Flyonline wrote:Any ideas on how to get rid of some rabbits in an (almost) urban setting? We're right on the edge of town with houses either side but nothing behind. If I could justify a decent air rifle I might get one and surreptitiously take a few shots from inside the house with the window screen removed.
Alternatives or suggestions?
Don't want to put down pindone etc. as there are family pets around, as well as a local owl or two that do occasionally grab one. I'd be quite happy to live trap them and wring a few necks, but all the videos I've watched seem to trap suspiciously tame rabbits so not sure how something would go on wild rabbits. I did think of putting a heap of dry ice down the warren, but the burrows are not accessible on our property, or under containers etc.
Thanks
Steve
Lazarus wrote:@Bladeracer
I believe you are thinking of myxomatosis.
That's the one that blinds them, makes them die slowly and suffer the entire time.
I wasn't aware that the Calicivirus had been put out and was thinking all the healthy looking dead rabbits I was finding were snake victims.
It's a haemorrhagic virus that displays no outward symptoms.
https://www.portroadvet.com.au/calicivi ... is-rabbit/
Boundry Rider wrote:“I wasn't aware that the Calicivirus had been put out and was thinking all the healthy looking dead rabbits I was finding were snake victims.”
Calicivirus has been released twice, Chinese strain and Korean strain. The Korean strain kills much quicker and blowflies can transmit it as well as mosquitoes.
Lazarus wrote:Boundry Rider wrote:“I wasn't aware that the Calicivirus had been put out and was thinking all the healthy looking dead rabbits I was finding were snake victims.”
Calicivirus has been released twice, Chinese strain and Korean strain. The Korean strain kills much quicker and blowflies can transmit it as well as mosquitoes.
It's obviously the Korean strain released here then, the dead look just like they've gone to sleep.
Definitely no bleeding visible, they just fall over dead.
Perhaps you have the Chinese version Blade.
Boundry Rider wrote:One warren?
I have a client with a 30000L concrete water tank next to the road- no shooting there.
Every 6 months a new doe will dig in and once the tracks are spotted we do the following: Around mid morning use a 2” poly pipe from the tractor or a petrol car exhaust into and fill around the highest bunny hole, idle for 20-30 mins and then smooth over the entrances to see if any survivors are ingress/egress any remaining burrows the next day.
The exhaust is heavier than air and will settle into the warren and vent at the lowest burrow. If you’re are on a hill you can fill entrances and leave 20mm pipe to vent the lower burrows which will elevate your gas level in the warren. Sometimes there will be burrows that are not linked hence check for tracks the next day.
This method is instant and safe in open areas, just manage your fire risk and keep children away for obvious reasons.
animalpest wrote:The amount of CO2 put out by modern cars isn't enough to be effective on warrens. When the engine first starts from cold it puts out more but very quickly reduces. You need a pre 1976 vehicle or a stationary motor with no emission control stuff on it.
Oldbloke wrote:Well, it seems animalpest is right.
Cars now emit about 1000ppm of carbon monoxide from the tail pipe.
https://www.abe.iastate.edu/extension-a ... s-aen-208/.
It was much, much higher. This is due to catalyc converters now being fitted.
It takes a concentration of about 3000 ppm to kill within 30 minutes.
https://www.abe.iastate.edu/extension-a ... e-aen-172/
Would exhaust gasses push out/replace all of the fresh air anyway? They would then be asphyxiated due to lack of oxygen. . You would need to achieve pretty good seal of all exits. I'm unsure if that could be achieved.
Perhaps diesel engines produce more co?
Oldbloke wrote:Well, it seems animalpest is right.
Cars now emit about 1000ppm of carbon monoxide from the tail pipe.
https://www.abe.iastate.edu/extension-a ... s-aen-208/.
It was much, much higher. This is due to catalyc converters now being fitted.
It takes a concentration of about 3000 ppm to kill within 30 minutes.
https://www.abe.iastate.edu/extension-a ... e-aen-172/
Would exhaust gasses push out/replace all of the fresh air anyway? They would then be asphyxiated due to lack of oxygen. . You would need to achieve pretty good seal of all exits. I'm unsure if that could be achieved.
Perhaps diesel engines produce more co?