Breeding like rabbits
Farmland ' overrun' in a third of the region's towns
THE RAPID growth of wild rabbit populations is causing problems for farmers in 191 municipalities in the Valencia region, according to the regional department for agriculture.
Lack of population control is having a significant impact on crops in over 35% of the region’s 542 towns and villages, affecting nearly 946,400 hectares of land.
Serious and widespread damage has been reported following a ‘ considerable increase’ in rabbit numbers in a rising number of locations recently. The department began drawing up a census of municipalities overrun with wild rabbits in 2009, agreeing ‘ control and management’ procedures, and this was updated in November 2018.
Once again, the list has been extended following data provided by town councils, professional farming organisations, insurance companies and hunting and fishing associations, and now covers 81 municipalities in Alicante province, 93 in Valencia and 17 in Castellón.
Another nine were added this week in Alicante province
– Benifallim, Castalla and Tibi ( L’Alcoià), Petrer ( Vinalopó Mitjà), Calpe ( Marina Alta), Benimantell and Guadalest ( Marina Baixa), Muchamiel ( L’Alacantí) and San Fulgencio ( Vega Baja).
In Valencia, 12 have been inserted – Estivella ( Camp de Morvedre), Alfauir and Castellonet de la Conquesta ( La Safor), Moixent ( La Costera), Anna ( La Canal de Navarrés), Albuixech, Godella and Massalfassar ( L’Horta Nord), and Benissanó, Benaguasil, Nàquera and Casinos ( Camp de Túria).
Several have been taken off the list though, now that their rabbit populations are said to be at ‘ acceptable levels’, which are Benitachell ( Marina Alta) and Callosa d'En Sarrià ( Marina Baixa) in Alicante province; and Faura and Gilet ( Camp de Morvedre), Alberic, Algemesí and Benifaió ( Ribera Alta) in Valencia province.
The regional government gave permission this summer for rabbits to be hunted in La MataTorrevieja natural park again, were the grape crop in the vineyards bordering La Mata lake has been affected.