Myxomatosis

[snake]

I have been seeing a number of wild Rabbits with Myxomatosis over the last week or so. This disease seem to be affecting them very early this year, its normally well into July before I start to see any affected ones.

At least this little fella is ok.

[mh68]

Thats a great shot Snake. Our Rabbits up here were hit really badly last Summer but numbers have fully recovered now - i`ve seen hundreds these last few weeks. Not seen any with Myxi so far but i`ll keep my eyes open...

Mark H

[demicav]

It's a terrible disease. The bunny in the picture looks, well, a picture of health.

[Meta menardi]

I think it has more to do with population density than time of year. Rabbits have changed their habits, and spend more time not in burrows, Myxy is spread by fleas that live in the rabbits ears, when the rabbit population gets more dense, they start to live in burrows more frequently, the ears rub on the tops of the tunnels, the fleas jump off and then jump onto the next one down the tunnel.

Is this a myth or not, anyone got any comments, it is a theory I found in the coalplace of my mind, and I can't remember who put it there.

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

I think it has more to do with population density than time of year. Rabbits have changed their habits, and spend more time not in burrows, Myxy is spread by fleas that live in the rabbits ears, when the rabbit population gets more dense, they start to live in burrows more frequently, the ears rub on the tops of the tunnels, the fleas jump off and then jump onto the next one down the tunnel.

Is this a myth or not, anyone got any comments, it is a theory I found in the coalplace of my mind, and I can't remember who put it there.

Last summer I put the bad myxi outbreak round here down to the very wet weather, causing the Rabbits to spend more time underground and in close proximity to one another, which in a way reinforces your theory.

Mark H

[snake]

There are not many months of the year when you won't find fleas on a rabbit.
We have a huge population of rabbits that burrow into the sea walls and ditch banks. Very few live out in the open yet it is only a certain time of the year the disease rears its ugly head.
Increase in rabbit numbers and warm weather seem to bring it on.
Come September/October when the weather cools it is gone ( or maybe the ones that are left are immune ).
Possibly the warm weather triggers something in the flea?

[lincs lass]

When I first moved to Lincs, in my garden were lots of bunnies (about 9 adults at one stage) and I used to watch the babies running around the garden. Then they died off from Myxi, and again the next year the bunnies were back. Now they are no more the whole burrow has died off. Myxi is spread by biting bugs such as fleas and mosquitos, as when they bite an infected animal they then carry the infection to the next one they bite. I've seen a lot of pet bunnies with myxi which are usually pts. Although you get the myxi where the eyes are all pus filled and a skin myxi which is scabby patches.

[ellen h]

At the moment there is are a lot of rabbits through the country park and all look healthy.However I know come July/August myxi can strike as it has over the last few years.I remember one year was so bad you could hardly walk 10 yds without coming across a dead or dying rabbit.Even the foxes had their fill of rabbit meat!
I was forced to kill one or two myself(I was shown how to knock one on the head or wring its neck by a friend who hunted rabbits for food)as I couldnt bear to see the poor things suffering.
I believe this is a man made disease,invented to control the rabbit population-is that so?
ellen

[Kayleigh]

Lucky bunny

I was driving home from work the other day when a baby bunny ran straight in front of the car (doing 60) the bunny stopped in-between my front tyres.
I looked in rear-view mirror he hopped way happily..

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by ellen h

At the moment there is are a lot of rabbits through the country park and all look healthy.However I know come July/August myxi can strike as it has over the last few years.I remember one year was so bad you could hardly walk 10 yds without coming across a dead or dying rabbit.Even the foxes had their fill of rabbit meat!
I was forced to kill one or two myself(I was shown how to knock one on the head or wring its neck by a friend who hunted rabbits for food)as I couldnt bear to see the poor things suffering.
I believe this is a man made disease,invented to control the rabbit population-is that so?
ellen

I think it is a natural disease, but was introduced to this country. My Dad was an excellent rifle shot (we are going back about 60 years) and would poach with a .22. Reckoned he shot 5 sacks full of rabbits in a night, they really were a rampant plague. Clap you hands, and a whole hillside would go down a rabbit hole.

It is a very unpleasant disease and if the population gets up, then they get Myxy, it is horrible.