Photo of a feral rabbit in Calgary (Photo by Anne Billingsley)
Earlier this summer, as I was driving in downtown Calgary, I did a double-take when I saw two orange-and-white speckled bunnies hunkered together by a bus stop. There was no grass, no shelter, and nobody taking care of them. Cars were constantly whipping by just a few feet away as the bunnies sat wide-eyed and motionless. These bunnies were clearly not wild; they were domestic rabbits who had been left to fend for themselves on the street – something they were never designed to do.
Calgary’s booming feral rabbit population has become a troubling problem for the city, characterized by conflicting opinions regarding solutions, a lack of understanding about the rabbits, and an unwillingness from the municipal government to take responsibility.
In January of 2021, Gizelle Becker, a Calgary citizen, founded Wild Rose Rabbit Rescue with the goal of helping the abandoned and feral rabbits by finding them loving homes and by educating the public about misinformation surrounding rabbits as pets.
I recently interviewed Gizelle about this initiative:
How did the feral rabbit problem in Calgary start, and how has the situation become such a major problem?
“Like all feral rabbit populations, it starts with a few careless individuals that can’t handle rabbit ownership and dump them outside. Because the City of Calgary continuously ignores the issue, the colonies have been left unchecked and grown exponentially.
The fact that they have large litters and short pregnancies is why people think these animals are thriving. After the population thinned from our -40c winters, it was only two or three months before they were abundant again. And with pet stores giving out improper rabbit education, these sensitive creatures will continue to be abandoned.
Nowadays, with shelters at full capacity and more people looking to discard their COVID pets, I believe more rabbits are being dumped compared to a few years ago. The amount of phone calls I get on a weekly basis from people looking to rehome their rabbit(s) can get frustrating. Even with the online reminder that WRRR is currently closed for intakes, I still hear from desperate people that need to get rid of their bunny.”
Why should the citizens of Calgary be concerned about the feral rabbit problem?
“The feral domestic rabbits undoubtedly destroy landscaping, attract predators, and create competition for food/shelter with similar species. They are amongst some of the most damaging invasive species. I see many people upset that these cute faces are leaving bothersome burrows and eating away at gardens and trees. Most, if not all, Calgarians can agree with this issue and that it needs to be fixed.
However, not everyone sees it as an issue relating to animal welfare. There is a large chunk of people that are cold-hearted towards the rabbits. I face a lot of folks that support cruel and violent ways to deal with the colonies. It gets extremely frustrating facing those that actually mock people who care about the rabbits. Every responsible rabbit owner can tell you how sensitive, intelligent, and unique they are. I believe that because rabbit farming is still very common, some people ignore that there is an individual behind every pair of eyes.
If a cat or dog getting hurt upsets you, then the death/violence towards every animal, and also rabbits, should upset you. These rabbits did not ask to get mindlessly bought, then neglected, then dumped. It is not fair that thousands of these sweet creatures are suffering at the hands of humankind.”
What inspired you to start Wild Rose Rabbit Rescue?
“Growing up, I was never interested in having a pet rabbit. I did not know much about them and basically, every rabbit I met was cage-bound, timid, and unfriendly. It wasn’t until I met Momo, who’s been my close companion for almost 3 years now. I found her along Macleod Trail in a parking lot when she was just a few months old. She hopped up to me and let me handle her. At the time, I was worried for her safety and temporarily took her in to find a safe home. Only a week later, we were completely bonded and I couldn’t bear to give her up. We spent a lot of time together and I was surprised how much she trusted me. There were many days she fell asleep whilst flopped over in my lap.
After experiencing how loving and affectionate rabbits can be, I was heartbroken seeing the thousands of rabbits that will never get the same ending that Momo got. I became really inspired to help as many as I could, and that’s when Wild Rose Rabbit Rescue was born.”
On your website, you talk about how rabbits are often misunderstood. Could you elaborate on some of the specific ways in which they are misunderstood?
“Rabbits are often marketed as children’s pets, starter pets, and easy to maintain. In reality, they are the complete opposite.
As prey animals, most rabbits hate being held or crowded. They are considered exotic animals and need savvy vets and have very specific dietary needs. And it can take a lot of time and effort to clean their litter box and stray hay. Pet stores carry inhumane cages and harmful foods and toys. They will sell a rabbit to anyone without providing proper education and ensuring they have a suitable set-up. Because the rabbit meat/fur industry is still very alive, many people overlook how sensitive and loving they are.”
What steps can concerned citizens take to help remedy the situation?
“Definitely spreading awareness so more people understand the feral/dumped rabbit issue and about rabbit welfare. I do believe most of the problem is rooted in the fact that people are uneducated on the matter. Secondly would be to support the few organizations that help the rabbits and want to contain the issue. It would be amazing if more people knew about WRRR. Our funds are extremely limited and it is hard to be flexible in the rabbits we are able to save. My ultimate goal would be to do a large-scale neuter project for the rabbits.”
To learn more about the feral rabbit problem in Calgary and to support Wild Rose Rabbit Rescue, please visit their website here: wrrabbitrescue.com
Article written by:
Jane Billingsley
Jane is a long-time rabbit owner and animal-lover. She has owned rabbits for most of her life, and is passionate about advocating for the ethical treatment of rabbits and animals in general. She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Alberta, and hopes to pursue further education specializing in animal welfare and conservation. Outside of school, Jane spends her time writing, playing soccer, and cuddling with her bunny, Prince.
