They might not be on a par with Biblical locusts, but a plague of rabbits is proving a real headache for sports enthusiasts in Keswick.
The animals have made Fitz Park their home in recent weeks – and have been breeding, well, like rabbits.
And while they may have a loveable reputation thanks to Lakeland author Beatrix Potter, there’s nothing cute about their toilet habits, which include digging holes on the bowling green and the golf course.
Indeed the situation has become so bad, one sports club is demanding the town council take action.
“It’s reached the stage where we are filling the holes every day, but coming down the next morning to find the rabbits have dug them up again,” said Cliff Harding, president of Fitz Park Bowling Club.
“And it’s not just us – the problem is widespread across the whole park. They’re all over the place, and it’s costing a lot of money to repair the damage they cause.”
The club has now written a letter to the town council, who at a recent meeting agreed to work with the park trustees to bring in a specialist contractor to advise them on possible options to resolve the problem.
Under the terms of the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act rabbits are classified as pests and landowners have a responsibility to take action to prevent them from causing damage. They are not given any specific protection, so it is legal to kill or take them by lawful methods at any time of year.
One could be a selective cull, which usually involves the use of gas, traps and snares, shooting or even ferreting. Another costlier option would be to erect special rabbit-proof fencing.
But according to parks manager Christine Fawcett, the most effective way of dealing with a rabbit infestation is usually to let nature take its course.
“A couple of years ago there was a myxomatosis outbreak which kept the numbers of rabbits low, but since then the population has just grown and grown to the extent that it’s almost out of control.
“The bowling greens have been hit, but other sporting clubs who use the park are also affected. The rabbits have been on the greens of the nine-hole golf course and on the outfield of the cricket pitch.
“Nobody wants to see a cull, but it might be the only way of resolving the problem.”
