It is a dreadful disease, and a shame on the human race for inventing it and introducing it. I didn't realise that it was much in evidence now - obviously I was wrong.
What I have noticed, though, is that with a return to a healthier population of rabbits in this neck of the woods, there are more buzzards than had been seen for many years. Clearly, the food chain has been re-established, to some degree, at least.
btw I recall a book by Russell Braddon called "The Year of the Angry Rabbit". He was an Australian author, who wrote this fictional work based on the problems of rabbits and of myxomatosis. I don't know if it's still in print or available - but worth reading if you do come across it. (It effectively highlights the unforeseen consequences of meddling with nature).
I thought that rabbits had become immune to this terrible disease as I haven't seen evidence of it for some years. However today we found a rabbit with it in our garden under the bird feeder (could this affect our wild birds?) and last week saw one in a country lane. Does this mean that man has re-introduced this vile method of control.
Don't you find it a bit scary - can they be 100% certain that this cannot mutate into something that could affect the human race - there is no way they can be 100% sure that it can't harm us, or other creatures!
Can they be 100% certain that this cannot enter the food-chain through unscrupulous meat dealers, or someone eating one caught as game in the early stages of myximatosis.
Shouldn't there be some Government legislation to stop 'men' meddling with nature in this dangerous fashion????
Now we have to go and find this poor creature and try and bring ourselves to despatch with it - which is totally against our nature.
Well, men have been meddling with nature in a cruel fashion from the dawn of time and now their weapons are becoming even more terrible. It is unlikely that they will stop now.
On a less gloomy note, yes, I have found that the arrival of two healthy young cats persuaded all our pesky rabbits to leave. There are people on this site who will argue that cats should be allowed outdoors only at limited times or not at all in the interests of wildlife and other people's gardens and of course, if you hold this view, they will be of no use to you. I live in the country and regard my cats as workers as well as pets and give them a free rein because they control the rats and mice.
Posts
It is a dreadful disease, and a shame on the human race for inventing it and introducing it. I didn't realise that it was much in evidence now - obviously I was wrong.
What I have noticed, though, is that with a return to a healthier population of rabbits in this neck of the woods, there are more buzzards than had been seen for many years. Clearly, the food chain has been re-established, to some degree, at least.
btw I recall a book by Russell Braddon called "The Year of the Angry Rabbit". He was an Australian author, who wrote this fictional work based on the problems of rabbits and of myxomatosis. I don't know if it's still in print or available - but worth reading if you do come across it. (It effectively highlights the unforeseen consequences of meddling with nature).
I thought that rabbits had become immune to this terrible disease as I haven't seen evidence of it for some years. However today we found a rabbit with it in our garden under the bird feeder (could this affect our wild birds?) and last week saw one in a country lane. Does this mean that man has re-introduced this vile method of control.
Don't you find it a bit scary - can they be 100% certain that this cannot mutate into something that could affect the human race - there is no way they can be 100% sure that it can't harm us, or other creatures!
Can they be 100% certain that this cannot enter the food-chain through unscrupulous meat dealers, or someone eating one caught as game in the early stages of myximatosis.
Shouldn't there be some Government legislation to stop 'men' meddling with nature in this dangerous fashion????
Now we have to go and find this poor creature and try and bring ourselves to despatch with it - which is totally against our nature.
08.03.16 - 18.00
Well, men have been meddling with nature in a cruel fashion from the dawn of time and now their weapons are becoming even more terrible. It is unlikely that they will stop now.
On a less gloomy note, yes, I have found that the arrival of two healthy young cats persuaded all our pesky rabbits to leave. There are people on this site who will argue that cats should be allowed outdoors only at limited times or not at all in the interests of wildlife and other people's gardens and of course, if you hold this view, they will be of no use to you. I live in the country and regard my cats as workers as well as pets and give them a free rein because they control the rats and mice.