Sick rabbit on the road

[Yellow Fang]

I went cycling around the Berkshire countryside this afternoon. I saw a disturbing sight. There was a rabbit sitting in the middle of the lane and a crow was next to it. The crow flew off as I approached, but I reckon it was going to peck out the rabbit's eyes. The rabbit did not move as I cycled past, but I don't think it was dead. It could not have been very well.

 

[Sara_H]

I saw a crow killing a magpie the other day - stabbed it to death with its beak.
It was brutal.

 

[grellboy]

I was cycling and came across a rabbit in the middle of the road. I had to virtually nudge it with my foot to get it out of the road.

 

[glenn forger]

 

[slowmotion]

It's Nature. Red in tooth and claw.

 

[Profpointy]

I saw a crow killing a magpie the over day - stabbed it to death with its beak.
It was brutal.

my old cat considered a magpie to be a tasty snack. He ate the whole thing bar about 3 feathers and one foot which was quite impressive. He was otherwise a real scaredy cat, but tended to creep about. The "boss" cat's idea of creeping was more akin to a herd of rhinosorouces charging through the undergrowth so he caught nothing.

 

[sight-pin]

I went cycling around the Berkshire countryside this afternoon. I saw a disturbing sight. There was a rabbit sitting in the middle of the lane and a crow was next to it. The crow flew off as I approached, but I reckon it was going to peck out the rabbit's eyes. The rabbit did not move as I cycled past, but I don't think it was dead. It could not have been very well.

Probably infected with Myxomatosis, it's that time of the year, you can normally tell by their ears looking swollen along with puffy eyes etc.

 

[Yellow Fang]

[QUOTE 4270750, member: 9609"]Probably Myxie rabbit, a horrible infectious disease introduced and spread about on purpose by humans to kill rabbits in large numbers, it is a slow very painful death for the rabbit. But lets concentrate on the crow, we can't possibly accept animals that kill other animals.[/QUOTE]

I thought it might be myxie, but I did not take a good look at it. I have seen rabbits suffering from it before and it looks terrible. I know animals kill others, but pecking out eyes like crows do, seems particularly gruesome when the victims are still alive. I was hoping some car would come along and put the rabbit out its misery.

 

[Garry A]

Lots of hares on the hills affected by MX just now. Eagles etc will have a good feed.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I hate reading stuff like this. The other year i was out walking in some fields when i saw a rabbit lying next to a stream, struggling for breath. I didn't know what to do so i took out my hankie, wet it in the stream and covered the poor thing. to keep the hot sun off it. Then i left it, what more could i do? When i mentioned this to someone they said i should've "done the kind thing"and either drowned it or dropped a brick on its head. No way could i do that.

 

[jefmcg]

While I don't like to see sick animals, I've also seen rabbit plagues (post myxomatosis, pre-calicivirus) so my feelings are mixed.

Not introducing rabbits in the first place is the best idea; yes, I'm looking at you, Normans.

 

[jefmcg]

[QUOTE 4270880, member: 259"]Romans. 200 lines and you have to watch the first two series of Horrible Histories. Not that that's a punishment![/QUOTE]
http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/the-rabbit-an-introduced-speci/

The Romans imported domesticated rabbits but there is scant evidence that any Roman rabbits escaped to the countryside and established themselves. Apparently, there is no mention of the rabbit in the Domesday Book – which recorded most things!

The first references to the (European) rabbit being present in the British Isles were found by Veale (1957) and Sheail (1971). They found that rabbits were kept on the Scilly Isles, Lundy Island (in the Bristol Channel) and the Isle of Wight in the 12th and 13th century. These offshore locations may have protected rabbits from predators (and poachers?) and offered lighter soils for burrowing. Rabbit remains were found in the excavation of a midden at Rayleigh Castle in Essex; it is possible that the rabbits may have come from islands off the Essex Coast (e.g. Foulness).

Definite records of rabbits on the mainland exist from about 1235 AD, they show that Henry III had rabbits in a royal park at Guildford

 

[Accy cyclist]

I live near to the local cemetery. Plenty of rabbits in there, you see the young ones running for cover, and some not so clued up not running for cover, Ok they eat some flowers and it is annoying but the attitude of some folk pisses me off! They should poison them or shoot them proclaimed some old biddy the other day. That's it you old bag i thought. Concentrate on a few innocent rabbits while ignoring the lazy twats who drive from grave to grave churning up the grass, or the local winos supping their cider sat on the only bench available in the place. Anyway, someone else must like them as the other day someone had thrown loads of carrots out for them!

 

[Garry A]

[QUOTE 4270854, member: 9609"]


Didn't think Hares suffered from Mixie, ?[/QUOTE]

Not too sure but they had their eyes messed up and were running about blind. Rare to get so close to them.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

About 3 weeks ago I was driving down the hill to our house and I saw a Jackdaw pecking at something fluffy in the road - it was a very young Collared Dove being eaten alive by the Jackdaw. I got out of the van and the Jackdaw flew off and watched me from a nearby tree..

The Dove was alive and in a terrible state. I despatched it under my car tyre - nothing else I could do for the poor thing.

I occasionally come across Rabbits, birds and the occasional Fox semi-alive. Usually RTA victims. They go straight under my wheel if I have my car with me or, if not, I'll send it on its way with a heavy rock etc (plenty of stone walls around here).

Can't bear to see animals suffer.

Nature's a tough bugger but it's just survival within the food chain when another animal attacks another and I don't think any animal comes close to the cruelty inflicted on animals, or other humans, than humans themselves.