PREDATORS

[bluehound1]

Here in WV we are starting to get alot of coyottes and plenty of hawks. There are alot of people around here who have so called house cats but let them run loose. A cat is worthless to me.I would like eveyones opion on which predator you feel kills the most rabbits.


I had to edit this a bunch of times to get it right.

[MasonsBeagles]

My opinion is that cats are the worst. everything else kills to survive but a cat will kill just to kill.

I have been told by wildlife officials that the rabbit population and qual population has more to do with the habitat than predators. If the food supply and cover are available then they will maintain numbers. Not sure if it is true but would have to assume it is.

[Hunt6]

Loss of habitat then house cats and then hawks and owls.I hate house cats.They prowl the edge habitat while hunting.Will clean out baby rabbits.They do great damage to song birds and small game animals whether they are tame over fed couch types or wild drop offs.I never pass a chance to correct things.
Hunt6

[Nsb]

Red squirrels eat more infant hare than any other. I would assume they like rabbit as well.

[Steve C.]

Nsb knows what he's talking about. Red squirrels can really put a hurt on the hare population. House cats are a terror but we seldom see them out this way- not many houses. Probably hawks and owls take the most adult hare in my neck of the woods. When a fisher moves through the area, he'll raise hell with the hare too. Let's face it, I think even cows eat rabbits!

[SMITTY12]

I think coyotes in our area they are going to eat something every day I know the eat a lot of mice but they kill there fair share of rabbits. Next I would say Hawks, Owls etc. The reason I dont think its cats is because you can easily contorl that population they arent hard to hunt

[SMITTY12]

I think coyotes in our area they are going to eat something every day I know the eat a lot of mice but they kill there fair share of rabbits. Next I would say Hawks, Owls etc. The reason I dont think its cats is because you can easily contorl that population they arent hard to hunt

[bkg]

Probably the greatest predator of all is the "crow" They will take more bunnies in the nest than you can imagine.

[bluehound1]

I have heard some people say that deer are hard on rabbits. They say that a deer will paw out a nest. Is there any truth in this? Have you ever heard of this before?

[bunnycide]

Here in my part of North Carolina I'd say house cats and owls are probably the worse. But probably the biggest problem we have is the Wildlife commision. They reintroduced the beaver a few years back and they have destroyed countless acres of timber. Now they are in the process of introduceing cyotoes which im sure can wreck havoc with rabbits. I also have heard that they are respondsible for bringing deer to this part of the state. I never saw a deer in this county until about twenty years ago.. Now we are pure lousy with them. So I'd say the wildlife commision is our biggest problem as far as small game goes. Its a shame the money we spend for hunting licenses goes to ruin the thing we like to hunt the most... Just goes to show you they dont give a rats ass for the small game ,,, just for the deer hunters and duck hunters...
Also the fox hunters have trapped bobcats and now turning them out around here to have something else to chase.. So again the poor rabbit doesnt have a chinamans chance..

[kjohns]

I think cats are the biggest in my area. I too have no use for a cat period! Worthless killing machines. And they kill for fun.

Bunnycide, you should do whatever it takes to get them to stop introducing Coyotes. They will regret it. I live in Northeast Ohio and we never had any until a few years ago. Now I can sit on my back porch and at least 4 or 5 nights a week listen to a pack in my woods. The are everywhere and there is no way to control them. For every one lucky enough to kill 3 will be born and survive. They are out of control here in just a matter of a few years. So scream, stomp your feet, lay on the ground and throw a temper tantrum. Do whatever it takes.

[blackdirt beagles]

stray cats around here are terrible. in about a 3 year span, one of my running spots when from decent (always a couple or 3 to run) to lucky if the dogs can find a trail. over a two year period we "relocated " 42 cats (i kept track) and now we are seeing a return of rabbits. i know rabbits cycle up and down, but im convinced that the cats were definately hurting the population. as someone else posted, a cat will kill just to kill, at least most of the other predators are killing for food.

[Steve C.]

The introduction of coyotes, wolves and other predators is going on nationwide. As hunters, our strongest point to justify our right to hunt from a biological standpoint was to control populations of game species. These introductions are meant to nullify that point. Many state fish and game agencies are now firmly under the control of anti hunters. The commisioner position in most states is an appointed position so you and I have no say in wildlife management.

[TickedDog]

I would say that all these animals eat their fair share. But I agree that the biggest pain is a cat. If someone wants to have a cat they should have the courtesy to keep it in the house. I don't like animals in the house but if you want a cat than keep it home.

[HH Bayou Meto Beagles]

We're covered up with coyotes and I know they get their share, but those flying rabbit traps are every where with almost one for every telephone pole. They catch rabbits in my yard and they are very heavily protected. No shortage around here.
HH