Seil Chat

(Spelling may well be wrong)

Nightstar - "we need a new subject to get our teeth into"

Has anyone else noticed this disease in the bunnies in the central part of Seil?

It is an absolutely horrendous death, best to put it out of its misery if you see an afflicted rabbit.

Most islanders will agree that there has been a population explosion recently amongst the rabbits here. Many suggest it has been caused by the lack of predators since some amongst us shot all the foxes.

Has Myxie been introduced by persons unknown in order to control this resultant burgeoning rabbit population?
Or has an infected bunnie wandered over the bridge and spread the disease?
Is there Myxie in Kilninver?

Okay Nightstar - get your teeth into that!

Long Tooth (buck toothed out of sympathy)

myxamatosis
However it is spelt has been in the U.K for very many years and crops up regularly in the bunny population.
It was prevalent in the 50`s and 60`s when I first saw it.

I agree with Longshanks for once its a terrible affliction and any bunny seen with it should be put down as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Whilst there is no proof that its lethal to humans it is advisable not to eat
affected bunnies.
So watch Watership Down again;read the book but lay off the pie for now.
no tears for the foxes however.

Teddy

Myxamatosis....seems to be naturally occuring when the population gets too dense. As you say it is a horrible (looking) disease but it seems be a very effective way of getting rid of the population, by getting right down into the burrows. And any rabbit I saw with 'mixy' could be blind and maybe deaf, but until they were preyed on they didn't appear to suffer, as they would feed completely unaware of any threat.