Rabbits, Raptors and Regeneration: Pest Control at Telfit Farm
In regenerative agriculture, there’s no such thing as a pest. Every species has a role to play. Problems only arise when one population gets out of balance. When that happens, the ecosystem shifts from dynamic to damaged.
At Telfit Farm, this imbalance showed up in the form of rabbits. Huge numbers of them. They were hammering the lower bowl of the farm - grazing covers too short, stripping plant diversity, and exposing soil. It wasn’t a rabbit problem. It was an ecosystem problem. The predators were missing.
Our goal wasn’t to kill rabbits. It was to rebalance the system.
When “Too Many” Becomes a Problem
When we first looked closely at the lower bowl, we saw a landscape that had lost its predators. Buzzards, kestrels, kites, owls — gone. In their absence, rabbit numbers exploded.
Excessive grazing by rabbits meant the ground never had a chance to rest. The covers were cropped down, leaving no structure for wildflowers or insects. That lack of diversity spiralled — fewer insects meant fewer birds, fewer birds meant no control on small mammals. A simplified system.
In regenerative terms, this is the exact opposite of what we aim for. Regenerative farming relies on balance: each species keeping another in check, the whole system self-regulating through biodiversity.
Building the Habitat Back: Creating Space for Predators
We started by changing how we managed vegetation. Instead of keeping everything tightly grazed, we left longer covers and allowed rougher edges to form. That structural diversity became the foundation of recovery.
Within months, we saw a shift.
-
Buzzards began circling again.
-
Red kites returned to hunt.
-
Kestrels appeared, working the rougher margins.
Predatory birds only return when there’s something to eat and somewhere to nest. By managing for longer cover and leaving quiet corners, we provided both.
Scientific evidence supports this approach: landscapes that provide mixed vegetation height and nesting structures see greater raptor activity and more natural pest regulation.
Inviting Nature’s Hunters: The Owl Project
The next step was to actively invite back the nocturnal hunters. We installed five owl boxes across the farm — designed specifically for barn owls and tawny owls.
Every single box is now occupied.
And that has made a visible difference. A single barn owl family can consume up to 1,000 rodents per breeding season. They operate perfectly within the web of life.
Since establishing the owl boxes, we’ve seen a significant decline in rabbit and small-rodent damage. Ground covers are recovering. More flowers, more insects, more birdlife. The system is knitting back together.
Rebalancing, Not Controlling
It’s worth repeating: we never set out to eradicate rabbits. Rabbits are part of the ecosystem. Their burrowing, grazing and presence all have ecological value — when kept in proportion.
The problem was excess. Without predators, populations spiked, and the land suffered. By focusing on habitat restoration, we’ve allowed the balance to return. Now rabbits still exist here — they always will — but they move as part of a functioning web.
This is the core principle of regenerative pest management:
-
You don’t fight nature.
-
You fix what’s missing and let nature do the regulating.
Lessons from Telfit Farm
-
“Pests” are indicators, not enemies. When one species explodes, it’s a symptom of a missing predator or a broken link in the chain.
-
Habitat diversity is the foundation of control. Longer covers, rough edges, and nesting sites are tools for balance.
-
Predators are partners. Owls, buzzards, kites, kestrels — these species bring equilibrium back to the farm.
-
Monitoring matters. We continue to watch changes in bird numbers, rabbit activity, and plant diversity to fine-tune the system.
The Bigger Picture
What’s happening at Telfit isn’t unique. It’s a microcosm of what regenerative farming everywhere is trying to achieve — restoring ecological function.
By bringing back natural predators and habitat complexity, we’re reducing the need for poisons and traps, improving biodiversity, and rebuilding the resilience of the land.
This approach benefits everything downstream:
-
Healthier soils.
-
Healthier pastures.
-
Healthier livestock.
-
Healthier food.
The connection between ecological health and human health is absolute.
At Telfit Farm, pest control isn’t about control at all. It’s about balance. Today, the farm hums with life again. Buzzards glide over the bowl, kestrels hover, owls hunt at dusk, and the rabbits now move within limits set by the land itself.
