The little coastal town of Cannon Beach, Oregon is famous for it’s beautiful beach, iconic Haystack rock, vibrant wildlife, and their local population of adorable feral domestic rabbits.
It all started in 1982 when a local family released a few pairs of pet rabbits. Other residents enjoyed seeing the bunnies around and released some of their own. Over time, the bunnies multiplied. Currently there are thought to be hundreds loose in the city.
The Issue
As frequently happens in these situations, people have been drawn to the area to abandon their own bunnies, believing they are leaving them in a happy place where bunnies thrive. Unfortunately, while the population has continued to persist and grow, the quality of life of the bunnies is severely lacking.
Living outside, the bunnies are exposed to all kinds of inclement weather. Many live in burrows, but these can flood with heavy coastal rains. Blustery winds and the risk of a tsunami are also dangers for them. Though many predators tend to stay out of the heavily populated areas where the bunnies tend to reside, there have been reports of bunnies being attacked and killed by predators. Domesticated rabbits tend to be easy prey for hawks, eagles, coyotes and other hunters. Other dangers include cars and poisoning by locals who don’t appreciate the bunnies eating their flowers.
Even if they survive all these dangers, their lifespans will be significantly shortened by the absence of adequate nutrition and healthcare. These bunnies have no one caring for them. Without year-round access to grass or hay, their molars will overgrow, eventually causing pain and the inability to eat. For the rest of their diets, they forage, eating various plants, but because they are not wild or native they are unable to find a well-balanced diet. If they get sick or injured, they suffer alone with no one to take them to the vet.
With the recent rise of RHDV2 cases in the U.S. this is becoming an even greater concern. If the virus reaches Cannon Beach before the bunnies can be saved, the result will be catastrophic and heart-breaking.
Rescue Efforts
Cannon Beach Bunny Rescue was formed in 2018 as a resource to help rescue and rehome bunnies in the area. We are also planning to work on ways to help them on a larger scale in the future, working with residents and officials to implement peaceful solutions to the current situation. These bunnies have been neglected for decades. Together, we hope to help them receive the love and care they deserve, and to prevent future generations from suffering the fate of previous ones.
All photos on this post are courtesy of Chelsea Lincoln @animalkind.
Article written by:
Karen Anderson for Cannon Beach Bunnies
Cannon Beach Bunny Rescue's mission is to improve the lives of the abandoned and feral domestic rabbits living in Cannon Beach, Oregon through public education, restriction of population growth through sterilization, provision of safety and care, and facilitation of the fostering and adoption of these rabbits into loving homes.