Time is up for hungry bunnies on Lemnos
Polecats, hunters and traps will be let loose on a particularly voracious bunch of rabbits that is causing farmers grief on the northeastern Aegean island of Lemnos, the government decided yesterday. This followed discussions with professors from several Greek universities, who suggested the introduction of sterile polecats – to prevent them from multiplying and causing more problems – to hunt down the rabbits would be one of the best ways of curbing the burgeoning bunny population. Female rabbits give birth three to seven times a year to as many as 12 offspring each time. Another measure agreed was for all-year-around hunting, but not poisoning of the specific breed of rabbit, which is responsible for widespread damage to the island’s crops and greenery. Action will also be taken to set traps for the rabbits and destroy their warrens.
