Foxglove- July 30 2008

SUMMER ferreting! Wasp nests, tall nettles and other uncomfortable undergrowth, hard ground, and the demands of keeping ferrets, dog and the catch cool. This day started well before dawn, to avoid the heat, and the downs were ribboned with mist as we drove across them in the pale light. As we turned between the stone posts of our destination, we saw the security gates were fastened open in welcome, and they swung closed behind us, for this place is well protected.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Jul 2008, 11:41 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:09 BST

No doubt we were on camera as we parked by the outbuildings and unpacked our vehicle. The dog unpacked herself, anxious to start.

Rabbits ran in as we approached. Our preliminary recce two weeks ago had shown where we would be working today, and the gardener had kindly strimmed some of the nettles.

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We netted three large buries: one was in the rhododendrons and therefore almost clear of vicious plant life, and the other two had until recently been masked with nettles and brambles, retaining sufficient of each to make us wince now and then as we encountered a stray frond.

This being a first trip, we were not yet sure which way the rabbits would run, so we took an educated guess and strung out two longnets in what we hoped would be the right places. Every rabbit hole we could find then had a purse net set over it, while the dog paced anxiously between us, wishing we would work faster. I sent her to leap the longnets so that she knew where they were and not to run into them, while my friend put the collars on the ferrets and checked that the transmitters were working.

That first moment when the ferrets go down is always so exciting, no matter how often you have been ferreting. You cannot predict how the day will go, for that is the domain of Mother Nature. This time, a juvenile rabbit hurled itself out of the bury within seconds of the ferrets going down, and went straight through the net, which had snagged on a tiny rootlet, to be caught by the dog.

There was a longish wait for the next two, which left from the same hole, one in the net and one escapee, despite the dog's efforts. The direction it ran in was unexpected, and showed us that our longnets were in the wrong places.

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However, we were busy now, and by the time the ferrets appeared to say that the bury was empty, we had bolted thirteen rabbits, four of which had escaped. Now at least we knew where to put one of our longnets next time!

The second and third buries proved much the same, being full of rabbits of all sizes. Our carefully-set nets caught on little bits of brash and root, often allowing the rabbits through, but the dog proved her skills over and over, snapping them up as they thought they were away.

In the background, we were vaguely aware of noise, not the usual hum of nearby traffic, but muffled voices and the click of cricket bat meeting cricket ball. Someone must be practising on the pitch. Then the roar of a tractor alerted us to work being done on the grounds close by. This meant that our ferreting was at an end, for I would not risk my dog anywhere that vehicles were moving.

It had in any case become very hot indeed. We gave the ferrets and dog a last drink, and paunched out our rabbits, which were also feeling the heat even though we had laid them out in the shade. It was a good enough time to stop. As we walked, heavily laden, back to the vehicle, we were deep in discussion about plans for our next visit.