Canmore to revisit feral rabbit problem

After six years of trapping and euthanization, the fate of Canmore’s feral rabbits could be in flux again.

The topic hopped back into local lawmakers’ laps with the release of a report by a human-wildlife coexistence task force that recommends harsher measures be taken to finally eliminate the animals.

That suggestion, and others targeting so-called food attractants in the mountain town drawing in wildlife such as cougars, coyotes and even bears, will likely be further discussed, said Mayor John Borrowman.

“It became obvious pretty quickly that eliminating (rabbits) through our program would not be successful,” he said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it changes.”

It’s been an intensely divisive issue in the town, said the mayor.

Since the trapping and euthanization program began in 2012, the town has caught 1,275 rabbits at a cost of $381,300 — an average of $300 per animal.

It seems expensive, said Borrowman, though if it saved the lives of cougars and even humans, it would be money well spent.

But the question of cost will almost certainly be raised when the town’s budget is debated in November, he said.

“Ramping the effort up or cutting it will come up,” he said.

The rabbits are descendants of domesticated animals that were released in the 1980s and proliferated throughout the town.

Not only do they attract potentially dangerous wildlife, they are a nuisance, say town officials.

There’s been no count of the rabbits’ population but, anecdotally, their numbers seem to be holding steady, said Borrowman.

He wouldn’t say if a stronger response to the rabbits would entail directly poisoning them.

“There’d be political overtones to that ... I don’t want to go down that road,” said Borrowman.

“It’s been a difficult discussion for council.”

Canmore’s practise of euthanizing the animals with gas drew legal challenges that failed, while efforts to sterilize and adopt them out through an animal rescue group ran out of steam after two years.

“For now, we’re content in continuing with this program,” said the mayor.

The town was warned that trapping and killing the rabbits would never succeed, said Susan Vickery, who relocated 278 of the Canmore rabbits. “If they kill them, people will start bringing them into their homes, then release them when they think it’s over,” said Vickery of the Earthanimal Humane Education and Rescue Society.