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09/11/2009, 20:36 Alan Zoff Joined on 27/07/2005 Allier 03 Posts 802 Where are the rabbits? A friend of mine - a real countryman - visited me in Allier last week and was immediately struck by the absence of rabbits. He couldn't understand why terrain so similar to his native Gloucestershire was not similarly swarming with the creatures. After all, you only need 2 (of the opposite sex) and before you know it you have a colony in England. So why not in France? I appreciate that there are a lot of aerial predators but if they are living on rabbits, there has to be an adequate food supply for them to survive - so why don't we see any signs of their prey (road kill, burrows, droppings, etc)? I said someone on the Forum (Chris perhaps) was sure to have a sensible answer. "Live your dreams, don't dream your life"    Report

09/11/2009, 21:50 Dog Joined on 24/08/2004 Lost in France Posts 2,593 Re: Where are the rabbits? In my hamlet we had no rabbits until this year and now have plenty and a third are jet black. Espouse elucidation and eschew obfuscation!    Report

09/11/2009, 21:53 krusty Joined on 13/08/2006 haute vienne (87) Posts 4,596 Re: Where are the rabbits? Loads of them live near me. The futures so bright, I've got to wear shades.    Report

10/11/2009, 8:18 cooperlola Joined on 05/05/2006 72 - Sarthe - home of les 24 heures du Mans Posts 8,169 Re: Where are the rabbits? On people's dinner tables. Healthcare Issues Site "I couldn't sleep very well last night. Some noisy b*ggers going around in automobiles kept me awake." Ken Miles    Report

10/11/2009, 8:48 JohnRoss Joined on 27/05/2008 Deux Sevres Posts 763 Re: Where are the rabbits? Very few rabbits but lots of big hares and coypu in this part of Deux Sevres. The only rabbits I have seen were in cages in back gardens kept for eating.......................................JR  Hares here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kddFC-Yi4yo      Report

10/11/2009, 9:43 Panda Joined on 20/02/2009 Posts 261 Re: Where are the rabbits? It is something that occured to me lots of times when in France, as your friend says in a similar situation in the UK you see hundreds of rabbits but I lived in 3 different areas each time I had around 20 acres that I lived on and walked in every day and never saw one.     Report

10/11/2009, 10:35 water rat Joined on 17/09/2005 Posts 136 Re: Where are the rabbits? if you own a couple of Jack Russels or Ratiers, then you'll see the rabbits! They're around ,but much more timid ,posssibly due to being hunted more intensively.    Report

10/11/2009, 10:47 Iceni Joined on 23/08/2004 Lot 46 Posts 3,574 Re: Where are the rabbits?  Dog wrote: In my hamlet we had no rabbits until this year and now have plenty and a third are jet black. M. Le Pen warned us that this would happen but did we listen ? John Di How do I get MY free website?    Report

10/11/2009, 14:11 chris pp Joined on 30/08/2005 Vienne '86' Posts 2,029 Re: Where are the rabbits? It's an interesting question and both has been and continues to be researched by various French structures. Soil structure is considered to be a major factor, rabbits require a well drained soil. Any soil that becomes water logged, even on a hill or slope, is useless for them. It is obviously of benefit if that soil is light in structure, although having said that, at the new reserve at Lac Saint Cyr where new bays and channels have been excavated the structure is effectively all stones and rocks and yet rabbits have rapidly arrived where the spoil has been piled much higher than the water level. Disruption is also a factor, regularly ploughed fields are a no no. Generally, (very), the best sites for rabbits are in and around towns, villages and large hamlets where the ground is usually well drained and there is minimal disturbance. Myxomatosis is a factor, hunting less so. Chris   http://www.planetepassion.eu Association Planete Passion - French Wildlife in the English Language    Report

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