Rabbit and hare population mapped

Darn it; I still can't do photos, but I have been planning to keep an eye on out local 'hare field'..although we tend to see them more in the autumn when the crops are gone. I've never really looked for them in spring..if and when it stops raining I shall venture forth with me bins [never seem to have them with me when something interesting appears on the horizon]

We saw one in a nearby field a few days ago, sitting still.We were whizzing past in the car, no camera. haven't seen one for a long time and you forget how big they are, like mini kangaroos!

This has been going on for years and years, it was over ten years ago that it was first brought to my attention - but I won't do it. I was told that poachers look at the map and think Christmas has come early. Lamping has gone on in every area I have lived in, I can hear shots being fired in the night and have often seen headlights sweeping fields that should be empty.

I was about to say that I thought that rabbits were pests, but I see from the article that it varies by area.

No shortage of rabbits here, loads of the to be seen on roadside verges after dark. Hares are less common, but do see a few.

Anyone watching Springwatch, from Bempton Cliffs and Minsmere?
It's amazing. We used to go there quite a lot when we lived in Yorkshire, particularly to watch the puffins, the only mainland colony.

We hardly see any hares on the farmland surrounding us these days. They used to be a common sight.

I do NOT want to see any rabbits as they're so destructive in the garden. Thankfully our two JR terriers and two cats do a good job of keeping them at bay.

Daughter planted a new hedge last autumn , it is round quite a large garden so some expense ! The rabbits did a good job of " pruning " it down to inches Her Husband has put rabbit wire on both sides of it , better late than never . They have dozen's of rabbits coming in off the farmland

I did watch Springwatch and was interested to hear that the Easter bunny was probably a hare!

As a general observation it seems that there are a lot more hares around in Norfolk - even appearing in the butchers! Fewer rabbits though. Although the rising buzzard population may have something to do with that. I saw a rabbit with myxie the other day which I haven't for some time. Perhaps it's on the up again.

Like jane I wouldn't do the survey for fear of poachers. I think it's information which would be best garnered around here from farmers and keepers.

I cannot for the life of me understand why it is still allowed to hunt hares, when their numbers are so low. When walking with our previous dog in East Leics, we did encounter hares from time to time and it always was a real treat. And once driving on a small Norfolk road, we did see boxing hares in a field, we watched for about 30 mins, and they were totally oblivious to us.

Here in 'my' mountains, we have hares in the back field from time to time, between us and the woods- and I just love to watch them- they are quite large, always a surprise.

The only time I wished I had a gun, was meeting mixo rabbits in East Leics- just to sad. Watching them suffer and being unable to do anything was horrible. And it did make me think that foxes do play a really useful rôle in nature, as they are the only predators to rabbits and help control their numbers (well badgers will take young rabbits in the burrow).