Hares and Myxomatosis

[Red Fred]

Back in the early '80s, they suspected that Gramoxone was somehow involved in the decline of hares on the Wiltshire downs. I know they did some studies, but does anyone know if they found anything? I was drivig a sprayer there at the time.

 

[yellow belly]

Biggest problem we have is bloody buzzards picking up leverets.ive witnessed this when spreading fertiliser.made me really angry
Nick...

Seen this every year drilling in the spring

 

[yellow belly]

'Biggest problem we have is bloody buzzards picking up leverets.ive witnessed this when spreading fertiliser.made me really angry
Nick...'

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Why does watching nature* in operation make you angry?

(* leaving to one side the pedantic quibble that the buzzard is a native species while the brown hare isn't).[/
Because when ther are 8 to 10 buzzards the hare has no chance
Not many rabbit here more deer than rabbits
But buzzards will not tackle them

 

[Renaultman]

Coursers and Buzzards there biggest threat around here, we are probably lucky in that the winter sown wheat has germinated quite quickly, one annoyance is local game keeper reducing hare numbers to deter poachers rather than having the balls to deal with the real problem.

 

[Fallowfield]

That might make you sad (because the likkle baby hares are all warm and cuddly), but why would it make you angry?

 

[nick...]

'Biggest problem we have is bloody buzzards picking up leverets.ive witnessed this when spreading fertiliser.made me really angry
Nick...'

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Why does watching nature* in operation make you angry?

(* leaving to one side the pedantic quibble that the buzzard is a native species while the brown hare isn't).

I just love hares and think a leveret is the most beautiful thing.we are over run with buzzards.no natural predators either so they will end up in huge number I expect.a bit like it’s getting with hawks and other birds of prey.
Nick...

 

[Raider112]

'Biggest problem we have is bloody buzzards picking up leverets.ive witnessed this when spreading fertiliser.made me really angry
Nick...'

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Why does watching nature* in operation make you angry?

(* leaving to one side the pedantic quibble that the buzzard is a native species while the brown hare isn't).

30 years ago I had never seen a Buzzard, back then seeing any bird of prey was a treat as there was lots of prey. In Stewardship Schemes they placed a lot of emphasis on helping Hares but they have a challenge nowadays with Buzzard numbers as they are. We are normally ok for Hares but not noticed them as much in the last few months, (not blaming Buzzards as I mean mature Hares) hopefully they are just better hidden with more grass growth rather than diseased.

 

[Jerry]

'Biggest problem we have is bloody buzzards picking up leverets.ive witnessed this when spreading fertiliser.made me really angry
Nick...'

###

Why does watching nature* in operation make you angry?

(* leaving to one side the pedantic quibble that the buzzard is a native species while the brown hare isn't).

Not native but been here a huge amount of time, think it was Iron Age times??

Current farming practices have worked in the favour of hares around here and population is up. These same practises also favour the buzzard which has increased exponentially.

It’s a managed environment but sadely some species are over protected to the detriment of others.

 

[Fallowfield]

I just love hares and think a leveret is the most beautiful thing.we are over run with buzzards.no natural predators either so they will end up in huge number I expect.a bit like it’s getting with hawks and other birds of prey.
Nick...

You do

Not native but been here a huge amount of time, think it was Iron Age times??

Current farming practices have worked in the favour of hares around here and population is up. These same practises also favour the buzzard which has increased exponentially.

It’s a managed environment but sadely some species are over protected to the detriment of others.

The hare is supposed to have been introduced by the Romans.

The main reason for the recovery of the number of buzzards is the reduction in persecution.

I suspect that buzzard numbers will fall a bit as goshawks become more common.

 

[Lincoln75]

Coursers and Buzzards there biggest threat around here, we are probably lucky in that the winter sown wheat has germinated quite quickly, one annoyance is local game keeper reducing hare numbers to deter poachers rather than having the balls to deal with the real problem.

Until recent years Gamekeepers were known to be handy with their fists and were not scared to use them on poachers and Pikey`s , I`m sure there's still a few who enjoy a brawl but not enough.
With todays long range precision rifles the least they could do is take out the dogs which would eventually deter to low lifes,

 

[CopperBeech]

That might make you sad (because the likkle baby hares are all warm and cuddly), but why would it make you angry?

It may just be because I’m tired, but you come across like a monumental bell end.

I would imagine the answer to your question is because in many places hares are in decline, whilst bird of prey numbers are on the increase, particularly buzzards. And yet buzzards are given a much greater level of protection.

Like many creatures, including badgers, they are privileged over other creatures because the general public think they are cool.

 

[CopperBeech]

Until recent years Gamekeepers were known to be handy with their fists and were not scared to use them on poachers and Pikey`s , I`m sure there's still a few who enjoy a brawl but not enough.
With todays long range precision rifles the least they could do is take out the dogs which would eventually deter to low lifes,

Shooting the dogs is a low trick that deserves whatever reprisals come your way.

Whilst forgetting about other negative aspects of coursing, which incidentally are mainly due to it being illegal and generally nothing to do with the actual coursing...... it can’t be said that coursing does much to reduce hare numbers.

In fact when coursing under rules was legal, hares were encouraged and numbers thrived. Far more hares are shot than caught with running dos, but apparently that’s ok?

 

[Lincoln75]

It may just be because I’m tired, but you come across like a monumental bell end.

I would imagine the answer to your question is because in many places hares are in decline, whilst bird of prey numbers are on the increase, particularly buzzards. And yet buzzards are given a much greater level of protection.

Like many creatures, including badgers, they are privileged over other creatures because the general public think they are cool.

I think a lot of it is about many adults having never grown up , they still live in a fairy tale world and I`m sure many believe Tales of the Riverbank really exists , if they believe badgers are a nice cuddly creature should actually try giving one a big hug, it would make a good video to send to the king of uneducated bell ends Brian May.

 

[Fallowfield]

Like many creatures, including badgers, they are privileged over other creatures because the general public think they are cool.

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I don't think the general public think of birds of prey as cool at all.

They are more likely to think of them as cruel and vicious and nasty.

Especially sparrowhawks because they kill small garden birds, which are pretty, and are nice to look at and listen to.

Generally the reason certain species, like birds of prey, have more legal protection than others is because they have been subjected to persecution which has threatened their survival, not because anyone thinks they are cool.

 

[snarling bee]

We are now overrun (should that be over flown) with red kites. They seem to have pushed the buzzards out. Although I did see both the other day, otherwise haven't seen a buzzard for 2 years.
We also have very few rabbits now after VHD killed them off 3 or 4 years ago.

 

[SLA]

It may just be because I’m tired, but you come across like a monumental bell end.

It’s not because your tired, he has form troll

 

[goodevans]

Back in the early '80s, they suspected that Gramoxone was somehow involved in the decline of hares on the Wiltshire downs. I know they did some studies, but does anyone know if they found anything? I was drivig a sprayer there at the time.

Let's hope that Monsanto's very popular weedkiller isn't suspected then

 

[hindmaist]

Serious question and I’d be grateful for answers;
How many of you on here would shoot a hare?

 

[Lincoln75]

Serious question and I’d be grateful for answers;
How many of you on here would shoot a hare?

Used to but not now as numbers are very low in my area.

 

[Yale]

Serious question and I’d be grateful for answers;
How many of you on here would shoot a hare?

Given the choice and if it was legal I would shoot a buzzard first rather than a hare.

I see 100 more buzzards than hares.