Next door’s rabbits

[Reiltin]

Next door have 2 big rabbits and 3 little bunnies - the bunnies arrived at Xmas. They keep burrowing under their fence into our garden - they’ve eaten my mint and poo’d everywhere, to the extent that I don’t want my kids playing outside. I’ve asked the wife on a number of occasions to put a permanent solution in place but they haven’t. She is a sahm with 5 under 7 and can’t even catch the rabbits. Her husband travels and I don’t know if he’s even tried to solve the problem - every now and then, we don’t see the rabbits for a few days so I think maybe he blocks up holes but they just dig new ones.

From my reading, the only thing that will stop the rabbits is my neighbors putting chicken wire 6-10 inches deep around their garden. I’m going to say it to them but I can’t imagine them doing it!

What can I do in this situation? Does anyone have experience of this? I’d appreciate any advice 😊

I'd just do the chicken wire thing in your own garden to keep them out rather than expecting them to keep them in.

They sound like bits. It's far too cold for domestic bunnies to be outside.

I’d put the wire in myself except that half the length of the fence between us and then is our shed and I won’t be able to get behind it. Also, I have 2 and 4yo and am pregnant with twins so I’m loathe to spend time , money and energy solving someone else’s problem

At the rate they're going they're going to be eaten by foxes... in fact I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet.

I woman I know left her bunnies to their own devices, neighbours returned them to her after time until one took one of them to her dsis and told my friend!! The other one was never seen.

Me too! I see one of the bunnies only has one ear so I reckon it had a near miss!

My bun about only has one ear.

Was due to an infection, not a lack of care.

Poor bun!

Do they actually want these rabbits? Sounds like they can't be arsed with them so just letting them run loose. If there are any rabbit rescues nearby might be worth handing them their details before these buns become fox food.

FYI rabbit poo is completely harmless unlike cat and dog poo, it's excellent garden fertiliser, so they'll at least be doing your garden a favour in that respect, even if they demolish the greenery.

Totally agree with bunnygeek. See if you can find a rescue centre address and pass on the details to the neighbours? At some point they will get attacked or eaten which would be a shame. Or maybe give the rescue centre a call or drop them an email? It doesn't sound as though the family really have time for the buns. Not your problem obviously.

Yes bun poop is harmless ( even if it seems loads!) 🙂

Poor rabbits.
Are the little ones the babies or a smaller breed adult?

They will undoubtedly be picked off and taken by foxes , cats or even some birds (Magpies couldn't carry off a large rabbit but they can attack them on the ground and maybe carry a smallish one)

Tell her (in no uncertain , no sugar-coating, basically as-it-is) that you are not prepared for your DC to find the bloodied remains of one of her torn up rabbits in the garden and if she has any scruple about her she'll think of these animals' safety and her own DC protection.

Yes, some people let their rabbits Free Range which is lovely for them if its done safely. Doesn't sound like that's the case.

IMO if keeping an animal safe sometimes means upsetting a shitty owner then it's a cross worth bearing.

Are they neutered? Vaccinated? If she won't spend the money to keeping them safe she'll have the vapours at the vets!