LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Rabbits: Sitka's New Invasive Species Problem

A rabbit sits in a hutch outside the animal shelter on Jarvis Street this morning. The number of rabbit sightings and the number turned into the animal shelter increased tenfold in the past year, according to Ken Buxton, Sitka animal control officer. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

 

By ABIGAIL BLISS
Sentinel Staff Writer

Alice Wolcott has spotted a large rabbit twice in her neighborhood on Lance Drive.

“It is larger than any rabbit I’ve ever seen before,” she said. “My neighbor said live traps did no good and that there are at least six rabbits in the neighborhood.”

 

Wolcott expressed alarm at the number of rabbits that have been sighted running loose in her area, as well as the damage they might incur on the natural environment.

“It’s a major concern for rabbits (to be) free in a friendly environment where they are not supposed to be,” she told the Sentinel.

Wolcott’s rabbit sightings are only two of many, and her concerns are justified, said Animal Control Officer Ken Buxton.

He said  both the number of rabbit sightings and the number actually turned in to Animal Control increased tenfold in the past year. And, with rabbits’ ability to produce 30-40 offspring each year, Buxton believes the number of feral rabbits probably will increase, barring human intervention.

Rabbits aren’t native to Baranof Island, and consequently their growing numbers in the wild pose a serious threat to the stability of Sitka’s ecosystem, he said.

“In fact, they’re not native to the U.S.,” he said in an interview. “Most of them you see are the European rabbits. We do have some North African rabbits as pets, as well. If they’re not a pet, they’re an invasive species.”

“It’s very serious,” he said. “The ecological impact is huge, in my opinion.”

To start with, rabbits in the wild feed on plants that are integral to the well-being of the local environment, he said.

Buxton said one single rabbit can decimate 2.5 acres of some indigenous plant species, which, depending on the location of the site, could destabilize the soil underneath.

“They can wipe out native shrubs and trees by grazing them right to the ground,” he said. “The seedlings don’t get a chance.”

“It increases erosion, which we’re all very aware of in Sitka with landslides going on,” he added. “We have potential for the earth to move with this wet weather when we don’t have proper indigenous plants and trees growing on a hillside or in an area where we want that.”

Introducing rabbits into the environment also disrupts the lifestyles of other species in the area, he said. For some, the rabbits represent competition for resources, and for others, such as eagles, they are a new and abundant source of food.

Buxton worries that an increased number of rabbits might lead, in turn, to a surge in eagles. 

“We’re upsetting the balance,” he said.

Steve Bethune, a biologist with the Wildlife Conservation Division of the Alaska Fish and Game, expressed concern that local bears would start feeding on rabbits, drawing them into residential areas.

“The biggest concern I would have for loose rabbits in town is the potential for attracting brown bears to neighborhoods,” he told the Sentinel. 

He said his office has not directly received reports of rabbit sightings, but he’s seen comments on Facebook.

So, how did this non-native species get such a foothold in Sitka neighborhoods?

Buxton believes the problem can be traced to owners who keep rabbits as pets, or raise them as livestock, without taking the necessary precautions.

“Some people are reckless in the way they care for them,” he said. “They let them range freely.”

He said an island in Sitka Sound was recently discovered to have more than 100 rabbits roaming freely, and the man living there was evicted.

“Thank god it’s an island,” Buxton said.  

But, he added, “I’ve had reports of people driving down the road throwing rabbits out the window because they’ve had a litter and they don’t know what to do with them.”

The penalties in city, state and federal law for such behavior can be severe, he said. 

Under state statute AS11.61.140, which pertains to cruelty to animals, Buxton said he can level charges against rabbit owners who let their animals wander.

“If I can prove that you’re letting your rabbits roam around freely and get away and you don’t think it’s a big problem, it is,” he said. “And if I can find a way, I will try to roll it into a Class C felony... That’s how serious I believe that the problem of rabbits could become.”

Buxton said residents don’t have to own rabbits to have a part in dealing with the problem: if you see a rabbit running loose report it to his department, at 747-3245.

“Don’t take it upon yourself to try to get the animal if it’s unsafe,” he cautioned. “I’d like a report on it, and the area.”

He suggested using a live trap, but added, “Rabbits are extremely difficult to get with live traps.”

Once a rabbit sighting has been reported, Buxton said, he fully investigates the matter.

“I will circumnavigate that whole area looking for pens,” he said. “And, since I am now actively investigating an animal at large and possibly at risk...I may access someone’s property. I will not look in the windows of their house. I will not try to intrude, but I will access their property actively looking for this animal and actively taking mental notes of where pens are and what condition those animals are (in).”

He has two pens for housing rabbits that he catches or are turned in, and his first choice for these animals is to find a new home with a responsible owner. He said he can’t spay or neuter the animals, as there isn’t enough funding in his budget.

Buxton said his work keeping the rabbit problem under control is consistent with his affection for animals in general.

“I love animals,” he said. “We have to be fair to the animals that came first: the wild ones.”

Buxton said he hasn’t yet brought the spike in the number of rabbit calls to the attention of the troopers, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, or the Assembly, but is confident he can count on local support moving forward.

“It isn’t about harming the rabbits; it’s about holding humans accountable,” he said.

 

 

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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