Hole in the vegetable garden: is flooding a burrow legal?

A hole under the pear tree: the dilemma between harvest and wildlife

Have you found a 40-centimetre hole under your pear tree and your first thought is to grab the hose to see what comes out? Stop right there. That measure, more suited to a nineteenth-century survival manual, is not only illegal but also shows a deep ignorance of Iberian wildlife and environmental law.

The most likely answer: a rabbit or a hare

In the vegetable gardens of northern Asturias, rabbits are a common sight. Despite the popular belief that cats scare them away —the neighbour has 30— these animals dig burrows near populated areas. Flooding the hole with water to "flush out" the occupant is a prohibited method of hunting and pest control under Spanish law. Drowning animals in their refuge is classified as animal cruelty and can lead to fines.

Sensible (and legal) alternatives

Experts —and common sense— recommend using a trail camera, which costs next to nothing, to identify the species without interfering. If it's a rabbit, the solution is to protect the pear tree with a fence or, if you want to regenerate the bloodline of domestic rabbits, capture it using selective and legal methods. Wildlife is not an enemy: rabbits don't attack people; their worst crime is eating the odd pear.

The incendiary proposal

At the other extreme, some lunatic suggests "pouring in petrol, dropping a match and blocking the exit". Just in case it wasn't clear: apart from being arson, it would destroy the garden's ecosystem, killing earthworms and beneficial insects and contaminating the soil. Fortunately, no one with an ounce of sense would take that advice seriously.

The sarracena is simple: before acting against something you can't see, investigate it. A hole in the garden is not an existential threat, but a sign that your land is part of a living ecosystem. And if the pears are at risk, put up a net — don't turn yourself into a western hero with a hose.