Residents in the MTCA community have noticed that the rabbit population at the University of Victoria has been growing, and that the rabbits have now established themselves in the MTCA area. Rabbits cause damage to plants and gardens and their digging creates dangerous potholes in playing fields. Rabbits have been observed at Campus View Elementary School, as well as in many residential areas and on neighbourhood streets. There is also a concern that the rabbit population may result in predators, such as cougars, being attracted to the area. There have been cougar sightings on Mt. Tolmie and in Mystic Vale near UVic student housing in recent years. Rabbits can bite, although this is rare, and may rarely carry tularemia, a serious bacterial disease. They are also known to be occasional carriers of bubonic plague bacteria and hantaviruses, which can lead to serious illness and even death in humans, rabbits, and other animals. Rabbits are not known to carry rabies. A significant concern is that dogs and sometimes children will chase rabbits, and can place themselves and others at risk if they cross into or near vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic.

MTCA response to UVic’s Feral Rabbit Management Plan

The MTCA is pleased that UVic is moving forward with the Feral Rabbit Management Plan and supports its initiatives. UVic has been working with and keeping the association up to date over the past few years, and we respect that this issue has been a challenge for the university. The MTCA will continue to have discussions with the SPCA and the Municipality of Saanich to pursue an appropriate bylaw that will hopefully benefit the neighbourhood regarding this issue. Links to UVic’s latest press release and its management plan are listed below.

The MTCA executive has been actively involved with this issue and has a "Rabbit Committee", which has met with the University of Victoria on several occasions. The MTCA contact is Matthew Taylor.

The following is a summary of the correspondence and information the MTCA Rabbit Committee has accumulated to date.

University of Victoria press releases

University of Victoria website - Rabbits

Letters to and from the MTCA and UVic and Saanich

Provincial and municipal laws and bylaws

Information on rabbits and the City of Kelowna's experience

Cougar sightings and Saanich Police warnings

University of Victoria press releases

UVIC management plan establishes rabbit-free and rabbit-control areas - 2010 June 28 "The University of Victoria’s new long-term Feral Rabbit Management Plan establishes rabbit-free zones on campus and an area where a sustainable population of feral rabbits can remain. The areas outside of Ring Road will be designated as rabbit-free zones. Feral rabbits will be removed from those areas over the next year through a combination of humane trapping/euthanasia and community-arranged sterilization and relocation to Ministry of Environment-authorized facilities that community organizations can arrange."

UVic concludes rabbit pilot project - 2010 Mar 4 "The University of Victoria has concluded its pilot project with the wildlife damage control company Common Ground to test the feasibility of capturing, sterilizing, and finding new homes for a set number of the feral rabbits from areas in and around its playing fields—an area designated as a rabbit-free zone."

UVic invites community to help reduce campus rabbit population - 2009 Sep 1 "UVic will issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a pilot project to trap, sterilize and adopt a minimum of 150 rabbits in a set period of time from a designated area that includes its athletic fields."

UVic launches public awareness campaign on feral rabbits - 2008 Sep 5 "We have determined that rabbits will have a continued presence on the UVic campus, but the status quo is not an option,” says Neil Connelly, UVic’s director of campus planning and sustainability. “The university is developing a long-term rabbit management plan that is based on a significant shift in how we view the rabbits and how we behave around them.”
"... Although many people on and off-campus enjoy the presence of the rabbits, their activities can have a significant impact on human health and safety (the risk of catastrophic injury to athletes from rabbit holes, for example, or disease spread by rabbit feces), and on plants and property."

University of Victoria website - Rabbits

Rabbits web page

Letters to and from the MTCA and UVic and Saanich

Letter from the MTCA to Saanich raising concerns over rabbits crossing Gordon Head Rd. - 2008 Jun 2   (.doc file) "This letter requests that the District of Saanich act to reduce the hazard around Campus View School, caused by the over-spill of the out-of-control rabbit population at the University of Victoria."

Letter from UVic to the MTCA regarding meeting with the UVic Rabbit Review Working Group - 2008 Apr 18 "We appreciate your patience while we deal with our campus related issues and as noted in our meeting, I assure you that the university does not consider status quo as an option." ...
"Of particular note, homeowners do not require a permit to trap rabbits on their property. Traps can be rented from several companies listed in the phonebook. Once trapped, however, there are limited options. A pest control company will dispose of the trapped rabbits in a humane manner or call the Saanich Pound. Relocating the rabbits to another location is not permitted unless it is within a certain distance from your home and on crown land."
"Fencing options are available. Pest-exclusion fencing will deter rabbits and other pests from entering garden areas. The best type of fencing to use has extra wire-line at the bottom with small links throughout. Chain link fence is not the most effective. These fencing products can be purchased at most garden centres and I have found that most staff are very informative on the matter. "

Letter from UVic to the MTCA regarding Review of Domestic Rabbits - 2007 Oct 15   (.doc file) "The purpose of this review is to obtain a factual understanding of the domestic rabbit population on the University of Victoria campus including the potential implications to the University faculty, staff and students, the public who access the University campus, and the surrounding community."

Letter from UVic to the MTCA acknowledging letter and creation of a task force - 2007 Sep 17 "... We too are concerned about the explosion of the rabbit population on campus. We are therefore initiating a task force to explore the options available to us."

Letter from the MTCA to UVic regarding rabbits - 2007 Sep 9 "Re: Responsibility to Control Nuisance"
"I would like to bring to your attention an important concern that the Mount Tolmie Community Association (MTCA) has regarding rabbits in the UVic and MTCA areas."

Provincial and municipal laws and bylaws

District of Saanich animal control bylaw (#8556) "RODENT means any animal of the order Rodentia or any other small mammal kept as a pet and without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes: rabbits, white mice, guinea pigs and hamsters;"
"RODENTS 33. Where any person keeps or harbours any rodent on a parcel of land, he/she shall ensure that: a) no rodent is allowed to run at large; b) any rodent is confined to the parcel of land on which it is kept or harboured; ..."

Municipality of Oak Bay animal control bylaw (#4013) "DOMESTIC RABBIT means a rabbit that is a member of either of the following species: Sylvilagus floridanus (eastern cottontail); Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit);..."
"FERAL RABBIT means a domestic rabbit that is not harboured and confined to the owner's property as a pet;..."
"RODENTS
33. Where a person keeps or harbours any rodent or domestic rabbit on a parcel of land, he shall ensure that
(1) the rodent or domestic rabbit is not allowed to run at large; and
(2) the rodent or domestic rabbit is confined to the parcel of land on which it is kept or harboured; ..."

Information on rabbits and the City of Kelowna's experience

More information on damage caused by rabbits and suggestions to minimize the damage can be found at BC Ministry of Environment - Rabbits

City of Kelowna European Feral Rabbit Control Program

TRACS (The Responsible Animal Care Society) media releases including "TRACS will now be responsible for capturing, then spay or neutering the wild animals, then move them to sanctuaries for the rest of their lives."

Cougar sightings and Saanich Police warnings

Cougar sighting in Playfair park, Cumberland Rd. at Rock St. - 2008 Aug. 12 (Saanich police warning & suggestions to protect children and adults from cougars)

Cougar sighting in 2600 block Queensbury Dr. - 2008 June 29 (Saanich police warning & suggestions to protect children and adults from cougars)

Cougar sighting in Mt. Douglas park, Cedar Hill Rd. at Ash Rd. - 2008 Feb. 22 (Saanich police warning & suggestions to protect children and adults from cougars)

Cougar sighting at UVic near campus housing and Mystic Vale. - 2006 May 22 (University of Victoria press release)

Cougar spotted on Mt. Tolmie including Saanich police warning - 2005 Sep 14

Cougar sighting at UVic near campus housing and Mystic Vale. - 2005 May 7 (Martlet [University of Victoria student newspaper] news article)

Cougars are a natural part of the wildfile at Gowlland Tod Provinicial Park in Central Saanich