Ferreting. A thread.

We use ferrets to kill and flush to gun, rabbits.

This is Jeremy. He loves hunting rabbits. Not so keen on chihuahuas though.
He gets very excited ferreting.

We have roughly 10 ferrets in each 'team'.
They have both male (hob) and female (jill) ferrets.
This is because they work differently, with the hobs going much deeper through a Warren than the smaller females.

Each ferret is different and each individual battle with each rabbit is different, but basically one of 2 things happen.
Ferrets either hang on to a rabbit with a particular neck/cheek bite and hold it, or they flush it.
This ferret holds so he wears a locator collar.

She, sorry, she's a jill.
Anyway, we use the collars on trusted 'hanging on' ferrets so that we can dig to them and get them out, and their killed rabbit.
We wouldn't leave one behind!

The spaniels noses are our secret weapon - Star says there is DEFINITELY a rabbit in here.

This saves us oodles of time as we know exactly where to drop in ferrets and not waste time on an empty Warren.

A bolting rabbit is shot.
Unless we are using nets, in which case it tangles in the net and we kill it by hand.
Dogs do not come with us long netting, nor do they chase a flushed rabbit.
These are our trained gundogs so they freeze.
Yes, chihuahuas can smell rabbits in holes!

There's always one ferret who forgets what it's doing and hangs around the boxes

A shot from last year of long nets being set out around a Warren before the ferrets went in.

It's a team effort, all the family can come!

Lairdy using the locator to find the final missing ferret from this Warren.

'Why not just fence the rabbits out?'
Well, the landowners do.
Rabbits however, can dig. They can also chew through wire. Plus, larger mammals such as badgers and foxes can plow through/under fences, making further access points.
Part of our job is patrolling and shoring fences

Gateways are another weak point.
Plenty of space for rabbits to get through into the tree plantation here!

Ferrets will bob around between holes both under and over ground. You never quite know where they'll pop up next!

In the end though, you don't need a gun, fancy collars, or dogs noses to catch your tea.
Just a ferret (£10 off gumtree) and maybe a purse net or two if you're feeling flash (also circa £10, Ebay) and some enthusiasm, patience and a love of fresh air.

A long netting clip from last year.
Set up has to be as quiet and quick as possible. Rabbits have big ears for a reason!
The thunder of their legs thumping when they smell/realise the ferrets are coming, is quite something.
In a large warren, the ground literally shakes.

Safety flag not in 3 shot but it IS made safe. Don't shout@ me

Ferret problems:
'What do you do if your ferret won't come out the hole?'
Some ferrets don't like the end of the day!
If you have a rabbit already, enticing the ferret out with it far enough for you to safely get to pick your ferocious warrior out generally does the trick.

It may take some time.
Don't forget to peg your rabbit or ferret will simply drag it into the hole and eat in there.
Then go to sleep.
You'll wish you brought sandwiches for yourself.

(Please note, this is a dead, gutted rabbit.)

'Is there a difference in the colours of ferrets?'

Generally speaking, no. That having been said, we only have one black eyed silver ferret that works up to our standard, and even then, she's on a shaky branch.
We do however favour whites/albinos as they're easier to see!

Gratuitous ferret pics.
The skinny Jill in the last picture is 'The Weasel'.

Whilst working, we check the ferrets feet, remove fluff from killed rabbits (it gets stuck between their toes - also an indicator of who is working underground that we may not have seen) and trim nails.
This is easier to do on a tired ferret than a fresh fit one in the hutch.

We get to see some pretty incredible scenery with our ferrets!

A bit of long netting action from last year.
Wait for it ...

'What do you do with the rabbits?'
We have long standing contracts with a Scottish Wild Cat breeding/preservation group, along with Raptor Rehabilitation and wildlife park (wolves, lynx, bear). Our own dogs, ferrets and us benefit!
Picture are frozen rabbits, part of a 100 order.

'But why kill rabbits? Aren't they harmless?'
Well no. Rabbits are voracious eaters, breeding like, well rabbits. They can decimate a crop, cover crops put in to support other wildlife and birds, undermine foundations of buildings and walls, and cost millions a year in damages.

It's also a legal obligation in the UK of landowners to control the rabbits on their land and not allow them to spread to the land of others.
Here is a link to The Pests Act 1954.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/2-3/68

We love our ferrets.
We love the simplicity of working with them, pest control as nature intended.
We have bred nearly every one we have. They are ferocious warriors and also handled placidly by a young child.
It is all fine sport and an exciting game to them!

Enticing a reluctant ferret out.
It is wise to not get your hands too close to the bitey end when they're 'in the zone'.

Sleepy Jeremy.
#DayOff