Independent pest control services are also available, wherever rats, rabbits, mink or foxes are causing damage. The Quarry Terriers are most commonly used to control rats on and around the farm, rabbits, mink and foxes. Rats carry diseases that can be fatal to both humans and animals. Rabbits eat and destroy farmers' crops and young trees, and damage embankments and dykes by burrowing. Mink are a serious threat to fish and water fowl - a single breeding female will make up to 800 kills a year.
Foxes prey on poultry, lambs, piglets and ground-nesting birds.
While poisons are commonly used to control rats, they are dangerous to pets, farmyard animals and other wildlife, and must be used with great care. They tend to work slowly, and there is no doubt rats suffer considerably. Mink are difficult to trap and almost impossible to shoot the use of terriers enables them to be controlled more efficiently and humanely. The Working Terrier A working terrier should be willing and able to go to ground to locate its quarry and this will dictate its body size and shape. Size varies according to the type of work the terrier is required for.