Questions and Answers supplied by Natural England - 090109

							Questions and Answers supplied by Natural England - 09.01.09
Rabbits Q & A
Q. Large numbers of rabbits are causing damage on my or my neighbors’ land, what can I do? A. The majority of England has been designated under the Pests Act 1954 as a rabbit clearance area. These places an obligation on occupiers of land to control rabbits living on their land or to prevent them cause damage to neighbouring land. Natural England has a range of advice leaflets available. If your neighbour has rabbits harboured on their land, you can write to them sending a copy of the WML-G22 guidance and requesting action is taken to resolve the situation. You can also discuss your situation Wildlife Licensing Unit on Tel: 0845 6014523 or send an email to wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk • • • • Download Download Download Download leaflet leaflet leaflet leaflet TIN003 TIN023 TIN026 TIN024 Rabbits Use of fencing to prevent damage Use of badger gates in rabbit fencing Use of cage-trapping to prevent agricultural damage

Natural England’s policy is to encourage voluntary action between neighbours to resolve the rabbit damage. Natural England believes that the long-term resolution of rabbit complaints is best achieved by co-operation. Without co-operation, problems are almost certain to recur. Natural England feels it would only be appropriate to spend public money issuing and enforcing Notices in exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances would, for example, be a situation that had national rather than local significance; it would not normally be damage at a holding or even parish scale. Complaints will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and if considered to be exceptional, the landowner(s) will be reminded of their obligation by Natural England and given reasonable time to put matters right. If this warning is ignored, the Secretary of State has powers, under Section 98 of the Agriculture Act 1947, to serve a notice on an occupier requiring them to take specified action against the rabbits. If an occupier fails to take the specified action they would be liable for prosecution. In addition, the Secretary of State can also arrange for a third party to carry out the necessary control work on the occupier’s land and then recover the cost of this work from the occupier. Q. I am a landowner and rabbits are coming on to my property from land or roads owned by the local council, Highways Agency, Network Rail or a large corporate body, and causing serious damage to my agricultural crops. A. Natural England will always encourage voluntary action in these cases. You should write to the relevant neighbour sending a copy of the WML-G22 form and request they take action to resolve the situation. If it is an A road, B road, minor road, bridleway or footpath, contact the Highways Department of the appropriate Council. If it is a Trunk Road or Motorway contact the Highways Agency Tel 08457 50 40 30. If it relates to Network Rail, contact their National Helpline Tel. 08457 114141. You should keep copies of all correspondence.

Q. Rabbits from neighbouring farmland are causing damage in my garden, what can I do? A. Natural England has a general policy not to take forward complaints where damage is occurring in domestic gardens as the damage is rarely considered serious enough to justify FAQ version December 08 52 enforcement action. You may wish to write to the relevant neighbour sending a copy of the WML-G22 guidance and request they take action to resolve the situation. Q. Is there any point in controlling rabbits on my land when it is continually being re-infested by rabbits from my neighbours land? A. The legislation and procedures apply equally to both to you (possible complainant) and your neighbour. Complaints will not be pursued by Natural England if the complainant cannot demonstrate that they have tried to resolve the situation themselves. If your neighbour has rabbits harboured on their land, you can write to them sending a copy of the WML-G22 guidance and requesting action is taken to resolve the situation. You can also discuss your situation Wildlife Licensing Unit on Tel: 0845 6014523 or send an email to wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk • • • • Download Download Download Download leaflet TIN003 Rabbits leaflet TIN023 Use of fencing to prevent damage leaflet TIN026 Use of badger gates in rabbit fencing leafletTIN024 Use of cage-trapping to prevent agricultural damage.

Q. I have noticed that the local rabbits appear to be suffering from myxomatosis, do I need to report this to any one and is there any thing I can do to help them? A. No, myxomatosis is not a notifiable disease. There is no specific treatment for the virus, in the wild death usually occurs within about 12 days. Q. Is eating rabbits that have died from myxomatosis harmful to humans or dogs? A. No, myxomatosis does not affect any other mammals.

Peter Karner Wildlife Management & Licensing Natural England Eastbrook Shaftesbury Road Cambridge CB2 8DR 01223 533613 GTN 3841 Ext. 3613 Email: peter.karner@naturalengland.org.uk