Exedous
11-04--2006, 10:18 AM
Island rabbits killed off for 20p (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4895740.stm)
Hunters are being paid a 20p bounty for each rabbit killed on Shetland.
The move comes after crofters and farmers reported severe damage to crops, particularly during the Easter breeding season.
The South Mainland Rabbit Control Society said shooting was the more humane way of cutting the numbers.
But Doreen Graham, of the Scottish SPCA told BBC Scotland: "Shooting is probably the best option, providing the person is a good shot."
"The Scottish SPCA likes to see agriculture in a strong financial state because animal welfare suffers if it's not."
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gifhttp://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif Six rabbits can eat as much as a sheep in one day http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif
Drew Ratter
Crofters Commission
A spokesperson for the South Mainland Rabbit Control Society said: "Anybody in the south mainland can join. The larger landowners have already signed up and anybody wanting to hunt should get their permission.
"The society counts the tails and the money is paid out once a month. We keep a tally of each person's tails and a record of where they were shot.
"We've got six or seven hunters at the moment. They do it for sport and pocket money." Drew Ratter, of the Crofters Commission for Shetland and Orkney, said: "Six rabbits can eat as much as a sheep in one day.
Hunters are being paid a 20p bounty for each rabbit killed on Shetland.
The move comes after crofters and farmers reported severe damage to crops, particularly during the Easter breeding season.
The South Mainland Rabbit Control Society said shooting was the more humane way of cutting the numbers.
But Doreen Graham, of the Scottish SPCA told BBC Scotland: "Shooting is probably the best option, providing the person is a good shot."
"The Scottish SPCA likes to see agriculture in a strong financial state because animal welfare suffers if it's not."
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gifhttp://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif Six rabbits can eat as much as a sheep in one day http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif
Drew Ratter
Crofters Commission
A spokesperson for the South Mainland Rabbit Control Society said: "Anybody in the south mainland can join. The larger landowners have already signed up and anybody wanting to hunt should get their permission.
"The society counts the tails and the money is paid out once a month. We keep a tally of each person's tails and a record of where they were shot.
"We've got six or seven hunters at the moment. They do it for sport and pocket money." Drew Ratter, of the Crofters Commission for Shetland and Orkney, said: "Six rabbits can eat as much as a sheep in one day.