Vitoria (EFE).- The Álava Provincial Council has authorized the hunting of wild rabbits in the gang of Laguardia-Rioja Alavesa, on an emergency basis.
The reason for authorizing hunting is the damage that this species causes in the vineyards of the region.
This is not the first time: the proliferation of damage to agricultural crops caused by rabbits in Álava has led to the granting of numerous authorizations for the control of this species in recent years.
Now, in an order, the Provincial Council has declared a “temporary hunting emergency”, that is, authorizing hunting, in the Rioja Alavesa region.
Rabbit hunting, a common control resource
The objective is to combat the abundance of this species, which “repeatedly” causes damage to the vineyards of the region.
In fact, last year the Álava Provincial Council already commissioned a study to “Estimate the abundance of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Rioja Alavesa and proposal for management measures”.
A rabbit, whose hunting has been authorized in Rioja Alavesa, in a park. EFE/Javier Cebollada
Several actions were proposed but it has been seen that they are not enough to avoid the negative effects of rabbits on crops.
For this reason, it has now become necessary to declare a temporary hunting emergency until May 31, or earlier if hunting reduces the size of these rabbit populations to equilibrium levels.
The neighboring community of La Rioja also usually authorizes farmers to hunt this species, which damages vineyards in full vegetative growth.
In other autonomies such as Castilla La Mancha and Catalonia, farmers have also repeatedly protested against the damage that rabbits cause to their crops. EFE