BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — A Boynton Beach neighborhood is up to its ears in rabbits, and a nonprofit group is trying to catch them all.
The furry four-legged friends started to show up years ago when people began abandoning them at Pioneer Canal Park, just east of I-95 and north of Boynton Beach Boulevard, according to Luz Pereira, spokeswoman for East Coast Rabbit Rescue.
Pereira presumes they were Easter gifts that were quickly tossed aside and then let go in the park after the holiday.
"We think there are up to 100," Pereira said.
However, these domesticated rabbits are more susceptible to diseases and fleas than wild rabbits would be. They can’t fend well for themselves and lack proper nutrition.
They also are attracting unwanted wildlife — fox, for example — and the group suspects that some people are purposely injuring or killing the rabbits.
Anyway, everyone knows what rabbits do best, and the situation has multiplied out of control.
“Right when you pull in, you see about 50 right away, at least that’s what you see, so you assume there are multiple generations, and hundreds more,” Pereira said.
The rabbits have made burrows under people’s homes and other structures around the park.
To capture them, volunteers set up cages, which are propped up with sticks attached to strings. When a rabbit hops in, you pull the string.
The bunnies have proved to be more difficult to catch, as they’ve been able to squeeze through the holes.
So far, East Coast Rabbit Rescue has rounded up just over 30.
Thirty two of the rescued Boynton Beach Bunnies are now at the East Coast Rabbit Rescue facility in West Palm Beach. These bunnies are being housed separate from the fosters that are now available for adoption. We are quickly running out of space and the new rescues are being housed in borrowed and donated cages used only for emergencies until we can get more space. Foster homes are greatly needed and also adopters to free up space! We will train you in bunny care and provide all you need to foster one or more of these sweet bunnies as soon as they are medically ready - some of the first ones we rescue are ready now. They will need your help to rehabilitate and live the life a bunny should! And check out our Adopt-a-pet page to foster or adopt a particular bun! Thank you everybody for all your support, we couldn't do it without you!! Contact Monica at 561-373-8042
Posted by East Coast Rabbit Rescue on Sunday, April 15, 2018
After they are caught, they bring them home and then go about finding veterinary care for them. They need to be spayed and neutered, treated for fleas and ticks, plus some have caught diseases.
The cost of such a feat is mounting.
“The thing people need to know is that they have no voice. Bunnies do not complain like every other animal does,” Pereira said. “It’s really important that people be their voice.”
This awesome team is out again this morning and making a huge difference. This mission will be ongoing and your help is greatly needed! Please follow and share as we help save the lives of these bunnies let go in this park at Boynton beach where they are being attacked by Wildlife and human predators and are enduring all kinds of misery from starvation, injuries, infestations, parasites, weather and more. One volunteer commented it’s like a war zone for bunnies – so very sad. We have a lot of work to do to educate the public about not dumping their bunnies! More pictures below.
Posted by East Coast Rabbit Rescue on Sunday, April 15, 2018
Monica Mitchell started the nonprofit about a year and a half ago. She was working at another animal rescue group, and when it folded she started this one.
She says she simply cannot stand by and do nothing.
“(I do this) because I have seen so much suffering, and I want to make a difference,” Mitchell said. “I want to rescue as many of these rabbits that I can and give them the best life possible.”
Click here to volunteer to help catch the rabbit, donate goods or find out more.
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