Rabbits eat a wide range of herbage and are attracted to agricultural crops that are nutritious and plentiful.
The legal position. Before taking action, assess whether the seriousness of the damage justifies it. Remember, occupiers of land have a legal obligation to control rabbits or prevent them doing damage on neighboring land.
Under the Wild Mammals Act 1996, it is an offense to intentionally inflict unnecessary suffering on any wild animal.
Under Section 12 of the Pests Act 1954, it is an offense to intentionally spread myxomatosis or VHD to uninfected rabbits as a means of control
Rabbit Clearance Orders (Section1) – Rabbit Clearance order No 148 issued in 1972 made the whole of England and Wales a rabbit clearance area (excluding the City of London, the Isles of Scilly and Stockholm Island)
This means that all occupiers have an obligation to control rabbits on their land, unless they can establish it is not practical for them to do so. In this case they must prevent rabbits from doing damage by the use of rabbit-proof fencing. An occupier within a rabbit clearance area has the right to kill rabbits by any lawful means except shooting.
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Using hawks to hunt rabbits is a natural way of controlling rabbit numbers.
We normally use ferrets in conjunction with the birds to flush them out.
The birds then chase the quarry until caught. They are then humanly dispatched.
Using the natural instincts of their birds to form a working relationship and to hunt is what the sport is all about
You are welcome to watch as the hawking proceeds, which makes for a very interesting spectacle.
All our birds have third party insurance, and are always flown with bells and telemtary.
If you would like further information, or would like to speak to one of our members about rabbit control,
please fill out the contact form below.