Meat in 1940 would be in short supply and so rabbit was often on the menu.

A common way then would be to use ferrets pictured here feeding and again with their owner.

The aim is put the ferret into the rabbit hole and it will scare/chase the rabbits out. They are then either shot, netted or caught by dogs.

Mr Carter being the farmer carried the only gun shown here at the ready (he was probably the only one who could afford one) but as meat would be on the menu there were plenty of helpers.

Often to dig if the rabbit stayed underground cornered by the ferret as you can see here.

Their way of locating the ferret was by putting a collar on it and tying on a piece of string as you can just see on these pictures indicated by the red arrow.

Webby phoned me from work last month asking for help as a Polecat (the ferret is a domesticated variety) had appeared at the ambulance station and they didn't know where to put it, the RSPCA being unavailable

There is an old ferret hutch at Greenheyes and here she is before we found her a new home.

We called her Nibbles as she found webby and I to be quite tasty.

 

Ferreting 2004 uses modern electronic methods with a collar and signaler on the ferret and this locator box which can find the ferret at up to 3m below ground.

This belongs to friends of mine John and Paul who use dogs to catch any rabbits. Same result if you are the rabbit I'm afraid.

A little word of caution to end on, if you to come across any wild animal which may inadvertently wander into your home or place of work etc your intentions may be to help it. Remember the animal does not know that, it is out of its normal environment, probably scared and if you corner it trying to help, then its only remaining option is to fight and when you're fighting for your life no rules apply.

Leave it alone, give it an escape route if possible, and get help from someone who knows how to handle animals.

If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten then seek medical advice.

More next month PHIL.

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