Feral Rabbit Relocation Program
Feral Rabbit Relocation Program began January 10, 2012. The goal of the program is to eliminate the rabbit population at the Ladner Leisure Center and surrounding areas by utilizing a live capture and humane method.
Read The Corporation of Delta's Press Release
Background
Approximately 500 feral rabbits are currently residing around Ladner's civic precinct as a result of people abandoning their pets and leaving them to fend for themselves. Over the last 5 years the feral rabbit population has increased with new generations born every week. The rabbits have been expanding into outlying areas to look for their own territory and food sources. Without a management plan, the population will continue to grow each year into the thousands.
At present, rabbit damage poses a safety hazard for users of the recreational facilities, Delta Hospital, Delta Hospice, Municipal Hall, Police Station, Delta Municipal Archives and the former Courthouse. Children chasing and feeding rabbits in and around the parking lots and roadways is also a cause of concern.
Although the rabbits are wild generations of their original abandoned pet ancestors, the life for these rabbits is very difficult. Most do not live past three years and many die within the first year of their life. Threats to their wellbeing are starvation, predators, motor vehicle incidents, weather exposure, injury inflicted by territorial disputes, cruelty and disease.
Project Plan
The Delta Community Animal Shelter will oversee the Feral Rabbit Relocation Program, which involves the capture, sterilization, placement of identification (by tattoo and ear snip), and relocation of approximately 500 rabbits inhabiting Ladner's civic precinct.
Once sterilized, the feral rabbits will either be relocated to Ladner Harbour Park or be available for adoption at no charge. Ladner Harbour Park is a historical habitat for feral rabbits; however no rabbits are currently located in the park.
Staff will create an education campaign on the negative impacts and legalities of abandoned rabbits by pet owners. Following the five-month Feral Rabbit Relocation Plan, staff will report back to Council with a review of the program and an update on measures taken to discourage future incidences of feral rabbit populations. Planned measures include the creation of a public education program to discourage future abandonment of rabbits and the introduction of a bylaw to restrict the sale of unsterilized rabbits in pet stores. A bylaw will be presented to Council for consideration in the coming months.
Project Outline
Rabbits will be captured 6 days a week and housed at the animal shelter. All captured feral rabbits will be transported to veterinary clinics in the area for sterilization. All rabbits will receive a tattoo and ear snip to help with easy recognition later at the release site and for adoption identification. Sterilized rabbits will then be returned to the shelter for post-surgical care and monitoring for one week. Male rabbits (if thriving), can be released after 4 days.
During the time the rabbits are at the shelter, they will be available for adoptions to the public at no charge (however an application and screening interview will be required). Rabbits will only be released when sterilized.
Long term support will be provided to the Ladner Harbour Park feral rabbit herd. Community support will be managed through the animal shelter in the form of a volunteer task force that will monitor the rabbits over the next three to five years (life expectancy of feral rabbits).
Abandoned rabbits to the area will be immediately removed to protect the sterilized herd, as injury from territory disputes would be inevitable and the population would increase again. Abandoned rabbits will be assessed to determine if they are viable for adoption.
Bunny Volunteer Task Force
Volunteers will be required to assist with capture, daily maintenance (feeding and cleaning), adoption counseling and managing the release site activities (monitoring the health of the rabbits at Ladner Harbour Park including checking for newly abandoned rabbits and providing feed to the released herd). In addition short-term and long-term foster homes may be required.
Members of the public wishing to help with this program are asked to get in touch with the Delta Community Animal Shelter to register as a trained volunteer. We do not encourage the general public to capture rabbits on their own as stress-reduction techniques are recommended. If you are interested in volunteering please call: 604-940-7111
Veterinary Support
The strategy is to sterilize 20 - 25 rabbits each week for 5 months. This goal is dependent on the successful capture of appropriately aged (8 weeks or older) healthy adult rabbits. Veterinary professionals in Delta and other municipalities have generously volunteered to participate in our program at a discounted rate. We thank them for their participation and support towards this program.
If you would like to support the Feral Rabbit Management Program your financial donations will go directly to our Bunny Fund to help with supplies and veterinary services.
Pet rabbit abandonment is illegal and considered cruelty under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Criminal Code of Canada. Rabbit owners who want to re-home their pet should contact the shelter for assistance. Rabbits that are abandoned at Ladner Harbour Park will threaten the wellbeing of the sterilized heard living there. Delta Community Animal Shelter and The Corporation of Delta strongly discourages owners to abandon their pet rabbits. Anyone found to abandon pets will be refered to the BC SPCA or Police for investigation.
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