Swiss Farmers Hopping Mad

I have to admit I am not a real big softy for rabbits.  As a child they were a dinner item on Sundays and I would hate to put in print how many I raised and slaughtered for the table!  My middle daughter would never forgive me!

But, hares are another matter!  I love hares and could easily raise them for pets.  Don’t ask, I have not clue as to why the emotional difference…

“An overpopulation of hares is causing headaches for farmers in a rural region of Geneva. The big-eared animals have a penchant for nibbling on sunflower plants. In the region between the Arve River and Lake Geneva they caused an estimated SFr80,000 damage over the summer. That’s three to four times worse than the previous year.

Thus canton plans to cull between 100 and 200 hares by shooting them between now and Jan. 31, 2008. The hunt will take place at night in areas where crop damage has been greatest, the wildlife department said. The number of hares appears to have grown despite past efforts to reduce numbers.

Despite the capture of 120 hares, which were shipped to the Valais and Haute-Savoie, their population in the Geneva area has not really diminished because of active breeding, said Jean-Louis Delabays, an environment official. More than 50 hares per square kilometer have been counted in the area around the community of Jussy, in the southeastern part of the canton. The hunted hares will not end up on any dining room tables. Officials say the hares shot will be donated to scientists for study. “

Of course, heaven forbid we actually get someone in the ‘wildlife’ department whom knows anything about animals – they would know the best way to control the breeding problem is to make as many females sterile as possible and release them back into the wild.  Expensive yes, but given three litters per year possible, there is a reason for the expression “breeds like rabbits”.

But, Timothy had a better idea at lunch on Sunday, import owls and coyotes from America.  Then pumas to take out the coyotes once the hares are gone, followed by grizzly bears to take out the pumas.  No you can sell guided grizzly bear hunts for 15,000 to 20,000$US and stamp out the bears!  What a capitalist he is!  I am in awe.

On the other hand, sniping with night vision is always fun!  If you can get close enough…