The expansion of feral rabbits in Greater Victoria has reached Royal Oak.
And with the rabbits there are growing problems.
Within the last year a herd of about 10 of the wee hoppers has developed in Royal Oak and live between the Pat Bay Highway and the St. Vincent de Paul campus, feasting on the manicured grass of the latter.
ItB次元官网网址檚 just one of the many rabbit herds in the region.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e everywhere,B次元官网网址� said Don Brown, CRDB次元官网网址檚 chief bylaw officer, which oversees the head of animal control. B次元官网网址淚t only takes a couple of pairs before you get [a herd of] 40 or 50. As the saying goes, B次元官网网址榬abbits multiply like rabbits.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
TheyB次元官网网址檙e known as feral rabbits for a reason. TheyB次元官网网址檙e not native to Canada and are the result of European rabbits brought to B.C. as pets, and then abandoned. As rabbits do, they multiply quickly with several gestation periods in a year.
TheyB次元官网网址檙e the rabbits that were famously once prolific at the University of Victoria before being culled and removed. TheyB次元官网网址檙e the rabbits that have pestered farms up and down the Peninsula and can be seen at various points along both the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails. TheyB次元官网网址檙e the rabbits that have frequented View Royal, famously crossing over to the Helmcken overpass meridian (removed as a health hazard in 2016), and now theyB次元官网网址檙e spreading into other areas.
B次元官网网址淭he shelters are full of rabbits, there arenB次元官网网址檛 enough homes for rabbits. If people knew that maybe theyB次元官网网址檇 educate themselves,B次元官网网址� Sara Dubois, chief scientist, BC SPCA.
However, itB次元官网网址檚 rare that theyB次元官网网址檙e culled (it has happened) and while it might seem as though theyB次元官网网址檙e thriving, theyB次元官网网址檙e not.
ItB次元官网网址檚 only a matter of time before the rabbit hemorrhagic disease reaches the South Island. Earlier this year it was blamed for hundreds of deaths in Nanaimo and the Comox Valley. ItB次元官网网址檚 had a similar effect in the Lower Mainland.
B次元官网网址淚t is very possible RHD will still be found in Greater Victoria in the future, and we are actually surprised it hasnB次元官网网址檛 already,B次元官网网址� said Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Sara Dubois. B次元官网网址淲e can only hope the virus does not spread more, as now people are aware of it and many have vaccinated their animals. But the ferals are still at risk, and many might not be discovered if they die in their warrens.B次元官网网址�
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The feral rabbits exist here only because of the warmer climates of the Lower Island and the Lower Mainland. Yet itB次元官网网址檚 not a glamorous life, which the SPCA Wild ARC learned while supporting the spaying and neutering of the Helmcken rabbits two years ago.
B次元官网网址淲e found the animals at Helmcken were in poor condition, the males were scratched from fighting and all the females were pregnant,B次元官网网址� Dubois said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a good life.B次元官网网址�
If a rabbit (or rabbits) show up in your yard, donB次元官网网址檛 bother calling CRD animal control or the Saanich pound.
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They are deemed wild by the province. However, if theyB次元官网网址檙e friendly and permit you to pet them or even pick them up, then Dubois suggests calling the local animal control or shelter. Yes, most local shelters are already full of rabbits, and there are not enough homes, but they strive to manage this phenomenon.
B次元官网网址淚f it was feral dogs, this would be taken care of, or even cats, but with rabbits weB次元官网网址檙e not quite there yet,B次元官网网址� Dubois said. B次元官网网址淲hat we see happen is thereB次元官网网址檚 a group of rabbits in a park, and someone says, B次元官网网址榳ell, we donB次元官网网址檛 have time for ours, so weB次元官网网址檒l leave it with this batch.B次元官网网址� But that has to stop.B次元官网网址�
Communities with escalating rabbit populations even partnered with the SPCA to get a UBCM moratorium on pet rabbit sales in B.C.
B次元官网网址淚f you are going to buy a pet rabbit, please be responsible and make sure itB次元官网网址檚 spayed or neutered,B次元官网网址� Dubois said.
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