Rabbits and bunnies are taking over B.C.’s Lower Mainland with colonies of over 2,000 being found across local communities, and it’s getting out of hand because most of them are not wild but domestic.
The invasive species are primarily European and Eastern Cottontail rabbits who are appearing in backyards and parks, and can cause great damage to the environment and properties.
The Fur-Bearers, a non-partisan wildlife charity from Saanich, believes it’s due to irresponsible breeding, the selling of unsterilized rabbits, and uneducated pet owners. They have continued to pressure the B.C. government to regulate breeders, disallow rabbit sales in pet stores, and implement a rule that anyone adopting a rabbit must go through an official rescue organization like SPCA so they can be properly spayed and neutered. B.C.’s response has been “disappointing” according to Executive Director of The Fur-Bearers, Lesley Fox, who commented on the issue.
“I think oftentimes they’re marketed as, you know, sort of a starter pet or a children’s pet. And then they end up in a hutch outside for the rest of their lives…
“Or sometimes, and what we’re experiencing is, they’re simply dumped. And people turn their pet loose, whether it’s in a park or at a shopping mall, to survive on their own.”
Veronica is a Staff Writer at The Cascade. She loves to travel and explore new places, no matter how big or small. She is in her second year at UFV, pursuing the study of Creative
Writing.