Rabbits outnumber houses in Florida: NPR
Wilfred Lee/AP
The South Florida community has a cute problem.
Dozens of domesticated rabbits have taken over part of Wilton Manors outside Fort Lauderdale. According to local lore, two years after residents released a lionhead rabbit from their backyard, the rabbit population now outnumbers 81 houses near Genada Island.
A furry invasion divided the neighborhood’s inhabitants. Some have threatened to shoot animals or feed snakes. Some people want their rabbits to roam freely. Concerned about the rabbit’s safety, some people are competing to raise money to save it.
East Coast Rabbit Rescue, a non-profit organization, is spearheading efforts to rescue rabbits and bring them home.the group managed rescued 19 rabbits Three of them were pregnant on Friday.
Volunteer-run units began rounding up the rabbits after completing their missions in cooperation with the city police.
ECRR President Monica Mitchell says a big challenge in catching rabbits is the population.
“Our hope was to rescue up to 45 people. That was our goal yesterday,” she said Saturday. “But unfortunately, we ran into a lot of problems there … because the people were so hostile. Some people didn’t want us to take the rabbits.”
Officers from the Wilton Manors Police Department were also involved in the mission and provided protection, but Mitchell wants the city to do more.
“The city needs to approach residents in a different way and say they need to allow the rescue team to come and bring in the rest of the rabbits. They’re not doing that,” she said.
Mitchell says lionhead rabbits are a fluffy breed known for having a thick mane (or double mane, or full mane) that wraps around its head, and aren’t made for suburban Florida.
Wilfred Lee/AP
Some residents are frustrated, she said, as heat-prone animals burrow into the ground to escape the intense heat. Lacking a proper source of clean water or food, rabbits graze on lawns that can be treated with toxic pesticides. Rabbits are also at the mercy of predators and vehicles in the area.
The West Palm Beach-based group says it will need at least $40,000 to capture, neuter, spay, vaccinate and microchip its growing 100-plus rabbits. So far, more than half of the goal has been collected. A spokeswoman told NPR that WMPD has yet to put money into the effort.
Mitchell said costs are rising rapidly.
Caring for a rabbit costs $200 to $300, she said, not including the additional medical costs needed for several rabbits.
Rabbits require veterinary care in foreign countries, which is rarer and more expensive than veterinarians treating common pets. Rabbit Rescue is preparing for a hefty veterinary fee, which in some cases includes surgery to treat the animal, said a representative of the group.
“Sometimes veterinarians willing or able to operate are three to four hours away from us,” she added.
in the middle April 25th City CouncilWilton Manors City Council members were concerned that developing a policy to solve the problem would set a precedent for the need to curb other invasive animals such as iguanas and ducks.
Mitchell has spoken to neighbors who say the rabbits are descendants of a pet owned by a former resident who illegally released them when they moved out of state two years ago.
Naturally, they then bred and multiplied like rabbits.
Mitchell’s rescue group is appealing to the community for donations, supplies, and help with foster families to care for the rabbits in captivity.
ECRR writes, “If you would like to raise a rabbit and live in the West Palm Beach area, please contact us.” Post to Facebook page. “We give them all. You just have to love them.”
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Three rabbits gather on a driveway in Wilton Manors, Fla., earlier this month. About 100 lionhead rabbits live in a community outside Fort Lauderdale.
Wilfred Lee/AP
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Wilfred Lee/AP
Three rabbits gather on a driveway in Wilton Manors, Fla., earlier this month. About 100 lionhead rabbits live in a community outside Fort Lauderdale.
Wilfred Lee/AP
The South Florida community has a cute problem. Dozens of domesticated rabbits have taken over part of Wilton Manors outside Fort Lauderdale. According to local lore, two years after residents released a lionhead rabbit from their backyard, the rabbit population now outnumbers 81 houses near Genada Island. A furry invasion divided the neighborhood’s inhabitants. Some have threatened to shoot animals or feed snakes. Some people want their rabbits to roam freely. Concerned about the rabbit’s safety, some people are competing to raise money to save it. East Coast Rabbit Rescue, a non-profit organization, is spearheading efforts to rescue rabbits and bring them home.the group managed rescued 19 rabbits Three of them were pregnant on Friday. Volunteer-run units began rounding up the rabbits after completing their missions in cooperation with the city police. ECRR President Monica Mitchell says a big challenge in catching rabbits is the population. “Our hope was to rescue up to 45 people. That was our goal yesterday,” she said Saturday. “But unfortunately, we ran into a lot of problems there … because the people were so hostile. Some people didn’t want us to take the rabbits.”
Officers from the Wilton Manors Police Department were also involved in the mission and provided protection, but Mitchell wants the city to do more. “The city needs to approach residents in a different way and say they need to allow the rescue team to come and bring in the rest of the rabbits. They’re not doing that,” she said. Mitchell says lionhead rabbits are a fluffy breed known for having a thick mane (or double mane, or full mane) that wraps around its head, and aren’t made for suburban Florida.
Rabbits gather on the lawn of Wilton Manors, Florida, on July 11. Neighborhoods in Florida are having to deal with an ever-growing herd of domestic rabbits on the streets.
Wilfred Lee/AP
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Wilfred Lee/AP
Rabbits gather on the lawn of Wilton Manors, Florida, on July 11. Neighborhoods in Florida are having to deal with an ever-growing herd of domestic rabbits on the streets.
Wilfred Lee/AP
Some residents are frustrated, she said, as heat-prone animals burrow into the ground to escape the intense heat. Lacking a proper source of clean water or food, rabbits graze on lawns that can be treated with toxic pesticides. Rabbits are also at the mercy of predators and vehicles in the area. The West Palm Beach-based group says it will need at least $40,000 to capture, neuter, spay, vaccinate and microchip its growing 100-plus rabbits. So far, more than half of the goal has been collected. A spokeswoman told NPR that WMPD has yet to put money into the effort.
Mitchell said costs are rising rapidly. Caring for a rabbit costs $200 to $300, she said, not including the additional medical costs needed for several rabbits. Rabbits require veterinary care in foreign countries, which is rarer and more expensive than veterinarians treating common pets. Rabbit Rescue is preparing for a hefty veterinary fee, which in some cases includes surgery to treat the animal, said a representative of the group. “Sometimes veterinarians willing or able to operate are three to four hours away from us,” she added. in the middle April 25th City CouncilWilton Manors City Council members were concerned that developing a policy to solve the problem would set a precedent for the need to curb other invasive animals such as iguanas and ducks. Mitchell has spoken to neighbors who say the rabbits are descendants of a pet owned by a former resident who illegally released them when they moved out of state two years ago. Naturally, they then bred and multiplied like rabbits. Mitchell’s rescue group is appealing to the community for donations, supplies, and help with foster families to care for the rabbits in captivity. ECRR writes, “If you would like to raise a rabbit and live in the West Palm Beach area, please contact us.” Post to Facebook page. “We give them all. You just have to love them.”
https://www.npr.org/2023/07/23/1189630073/florida-rabbit-rescue-suburb Rabbits outnumber houses in Florida: NPR