Rabbits in the middle of towns?

connerlake · #1 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 04:24 PM

My girlfriends dad is adamant that by a roundabout by me in the middle of Coventry city centre there are rabbits around the ring road where there are several small and broken up grassy area's funnily enough I've never ever seen them and I have a keen eye for wildlife, + I've lived here all my life and used that road regularly so I'm basically asking is there any chance they would successfully live in the middle of a town

vole-woman · #2 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 06:08 PM

It's more than possible. We have them in our town living by the swimming pool - a really unlikely spot.

mbaldw · #3 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 06:26 PM

I've seen them in our garden and we live a stones-throw from Southampton city centre.

Cheers,
Marc.

Hedera · #4 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 06:30 PM

We have some on a roundabout on the ring road, a very well established colony. People today were throwing lettuce, carrots and cabbage on the grass for them from their car windows! Once there were heather beds, but they've been nibbled off now.

Ukwildlifeo · #5 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 06:37 PM

There are even a few in Hyde Park in the centre of London!

solus · #6 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 06:46 PM

I was going to mention the Gloucester Roundabout Rabbits but I see Hedera has beaten me to it!

It's a fair sized grassed roundabout with shrubs and a raised "hillock" in the middle which contains the warren. Rare to pass by and not see any bunnies out!

During the summer 3 big wicker rabbit sculptures were placed there in honour of the real rabbits but, so I understand from the local rag, they are currently being displayed at an indoor shopping mall in the city centre for the winter.

There was also a bit of a hoo-ha earlier in the year when it was suspected that some unsavoury characters were decimating the bunny colony by ferreting there at night....
They must be pretty contented (or streetwise!) rabbits though as I've yet to see any squashed on the carriageway.

fairplay · #7 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 09:19 PM

A lot of new (and old) buildings have a lawn on the roof, now if anybody knew of any where 'wild' rabbits have been introduced, that would be interesting.

Neil.

AndrewB · #8 (**permalink**) 14-05-2010, 10:40 AM

Several times recently I have seen some from the bus, on a grass verge in the centre of Peterborough. They were nibbling away at the grass completely oblivious to the passing traffic!

There is a line of bushes at the rear of the verge so I did think there might be a warren, as they dont seem to be known for venturing far.

A lovely sight!