Jo Fitzgibbons, a designer with the Vancouver City Parks and Recreation Council, said that while rabbits will not run away from humans when they approach, people should avoid getting too close. “It’s perfectly okay to admire the bunnies from a safe distance,” he said. “Do not approach them and enter their space.” Rabbits near Jericho Beach are not afraid of people, but the city says people should be careful not to get too close. (Ben Nelms / CBC)
One of the biggest problems with rabbits on Jericho Beach, Fitzgibbons says, is that people are tempted to feed them, sometimes even bringing carrots and celery to offer to the furry little creatures. “This rabbit population is not really native to the area,” he said. “It really is not natural for their systems. We will often see disease problems, malnutrition and other things come with these fed rabbit populations.” Pet rabbits have historically been a popular Easter gift, but Fitzgibbons says people are often unaware of the commitment that comes with caring for them. Rabbits can live up to 15 years, according to the BC SPCA, and because they live in large groups in the wild, they need companionship. The SPCA suggests adopting more than one rabbit so that they have a friend when their people are not around. Jericho Beach Park is full of rabbits, an inherited population of unwanted pets that have been released into the area over the years. (Ben Nelms / CBC)
When people can not commit to a pet rabbit, they think they are polite by leaving it in the park – which is not polite at all, says Fitzgibbons. “The rabbit population [at Jericho Beach] “It’s kind of a hereditary population of liberated pets,” he said. According to the city, the release of domestic rabbits into the wild leaves them vulnerable to predators, disease, malnutrition and road accidents. The city describes rabbits as an invasive species, causing problems for indigenous peoples as they compete for food and habitat.


title: “As Bunnies Take Over Vancouver Park Humans Warned Against Getting Too Close " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-12” author: “Holli Torres”


Jo Fitzgibbons, a designer with the Vancouver City Parks and Recreation Council, said that while rabbits will not run away from humans when they approach, people should avoid getting too close. “It’s perfectly okay to admire the bunnies from a safe distance,” he said. “Do not approach them and enter their space.” Rabbits near Jericho Beach are not afraid of people, but the city says people should be careful not to get too close. (Ben Nelms / CBC)
One of the biggest problems with rabbits on Jericho Beach, Fitzgibbons says, is that people are tempted to feed them, sometimes even bringing carrots and celery to offer to the furry little creatures. “This rabbit population is not really native to the area,” he said. “It really is not natural for their systems. We will often see disease problems, malnutrition and other things come with these fed rabbit populations.” Pet rabbits have historically been a popular Easter gift, but Fitzgibbons says people are often unaware of the commitment that comes with caring for them. Rabbits can live up to 15 years, according to the BC SPCA, and because they live in large groups in the wild, they need companionship. The SPCA suggests adopting more than one rabbit so that they have a friend when their people are not around. Jericho Beach Park is full of rabbits, an inherited population of unwanted pets that have been released into the area over the years. (Ben Nelms / CBC)
When people can not commit to a pet rabbit, they think they are polite by leaving it in the park – which is not polite at all, says Fitzgibbons. “The rabbit population [at Jericho Beach] “It’s kind of a hereditary population of liberated pets,” he said. According to the city, the release of domestic rabbits into the wild leaves them vulnerable to predators, disease, malnutrition and road accidents. The city describes rabbits as an invasive species, causing problems for indigenous peoples as they compete for food and habitat.