Leave Jericho Beach bunnies alone, pleads Vancouver Park Board

With Easter just around the corner, it may be tempting to mark the occasion by getting up close and personal with a bunny. But the Vancouver Park Board is urging you to leave the fluffballs hopping around Jericho Beach alone.

Dozens of feral rabbits live on the grassy areas of Jericho Beach. The Park Board says it understands people are drawn to the bunnies, given their fluffy tails, twitching noses and relative tameness, adding people often try to handle and feed them.

However, doing so poses serious health threats to both animals and humans and can have adverse effects to the environment.

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Bunnies are often bought as gifts around Easter. While it sounds like a cute present for kids or other loved one, the Park Board says the animals are often abandoned when the novelty has worn off. This adds to the feral rabbit population, which becomes increasingly frightened, malnourished, and vulnerable to things like traffic accidents, predators, and disease.

The rabbits at Jericho are actually an invasive species colony. They were domestic pets that either escaped or were released into the wild.

“Invasive species can out-compete native species for food and space, damage ecosystems, disrupt food sources and introduce parasites and disease. They are the second greatest threat to biodiversity following habitat loss,” reads a statement from the Vancouver Park Board.

Jericho's rabbits may make for cute Instagram snaps, but these fluffballs carry ticks, wreak havoc on local environments and can become very unhealthy from eating human food.

This Easter, take pics but please respect wildlife & keep your distance! More: https://t.co/6KSnigvfWq pic.twitter.com/EeynJnw8Tj

— Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (@ParkBoard) April 13, 2022

Bunnies look fluffy and cuddly and many people are tempted to pick one up. However, the Park Board points out rabbits carry pests and parasites like ticks, which can transmit deadly diseases to humans and dogs.

Not only should you avoid touching the bunnies, but you shouldn’t feed them either. It isn’t healthy for the animals and when they gather around feeding areas, they become more vulnerable to predators and spreading disease. The Park Board adds mice and rats are attracted to food left out for rabbits, and that increases the risk of infestations and the spread of diseases like Hantavirus.

“While trying to get close to a small fluffy bunny can seem harmless, the best thing you can do for any wild animal is give it space, and observe from afar. If you have a dog, keep it under control, on leash and away from wildlife.”

Wildlife feeding is prohibited at all Vancouver parks and beaches. Doing so can land you a fine of up to $500.

Incidents of wildlife feeding can be reported by calling 311.