You may have noticed Thumper and the gang hanging around your neighbourhood, and because of that, the city has started a public education campaign about feeding feral rabbits.
With the Swanavon neighbourhood reporting a massive influx of the fluffy creatures, the city has already hand-delivered 150 informational sheets and mailed 313 letters with updated information to residents.
Grande Prairie’s Chief Public and Protective Services Officer Dan Lemieux says the animals can cause a bushel of problems for homeowners, especially those with healthy gardens.
“Each rabbit can consume up to 1 kilogram of vegetation each day, so they tend to stay around urban areas and around our parks and certainly cause a lot of damage to gardens, shrubs and trees,” he adds.
Lemieux also mentioned that if you see anybody feeding the rabbits to call 311 or reach out to other enforcement services, as it came come with a pretty hefty fine.
“It is against the bylaw to feed feral rabbits. Under [the] bylaw, there is a fine for first offence of $250.”
Lemieux noted that despite the complaints coming in about wild rabbits, the problem may have started closer to home.
“The concern with these feral rabbits, they are actually descendants from abandoned domestic pets”
In the city’s information sheet, they recommend sealing accesses under sheds, decks, and outbuildings with wire mesh buried at least 15 cm deep, to help prevent the rabbits finding hiding spots near your home.
