Nelson Bennett, Richmond News
Published: Tuesday, July 11, 2006

RICHMOND - Richmond has hired a wildlife control specialist to look at long-term solutions to the exploding rabbit population.

Vegetable farmer Bill Zylmans, who estimates rabbits have caused $30,000 in damage to his crops this year, applauded the move saying "The city has come to understand they have a problem."

City spokesman Ted Townsend said it's not known yet just how the city plans to control the rabbit population. So far, electric fences and other measures have failed to keep them out of fields and gardens.

While it may be controversial, Coun. Harold Steves, a farmer, said the only real solution for farmers is to shoot the rabbits.

"I think it's time that farmers are going to have to shoot the rabbits," Steves said.

The Right To Farm Act allows farmers to kill pests that kill livestock or damage crops.

Zylmans said he had to replant his pumpkin crop three times this year because rabbits kept digging up the seeds and eating them.

"The eradication process is going to take some time," he added.

Gardeners have also reported damage, and the Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project estimates it has lost half its fruit and vegetable crops to rabbits.

The rabbits are not indigenous. They are descendants of domestic rabbits that were released years ago into Richmond Nature Park.