Understanding encounters with rabbits

The City of Colwood is seeking your input to better understand where and how encounters with rabbits affect residents, so that the City make better informed decisions about whether some form of management is needed.

The rabbits we encounter in our area are generally not native to Canada.

We are fortunate to be connected to nature in Colwood, and encounters with animals are a source of joy for many. At the same time, we acknowledge that animals such as deer, racoons, rabbits, rats, and squirrels can cause issues for homeowners, businesses and municipalities. We seal up holes, put up barriers, select resistant plants, set traps, secure bird feeders and lock down waste bins to reduce attractants and guard against damage and disease.

Rabbits can be particularly challenging as they reproduce very quickly, which can mean damage can multiply quickly as well. Twisting an ankle in a burrow hole, replacing chewed irrigation and wiring, replanting landscaping, protecting sensitive ecosystems such as Garry Oak Meadows, and putting up barriers can all be time consuming and costly.

In areas bordered by busy roads, it can be dangerous for the rabbits as well as for drivers swerving to avoid them. It also creates one of the more unpleasant tasks for the City's Roads team and takes them away from other priorities.

Thank you for your input to help guide Council decisions

An engagement summary report was presented to Colwood Council on June 13, 2022. Based on the information gathered, Council resolved to take no further action at this time.