Nanaimo overrun with feral rabbits

​Thinking of getting a real bunny for Easter? If you're in Nanaimo, the B.C. SPCA wants you to hold off. 

The Vancouver Island city is struggling with the growing population of feral rabbits that are taking over university campuses and even the local airport. Rabbits are not native to the island and the ones found outside are all abandoned.

Leon Davis, manager of the SPCA Nanaimo branch, says people often purchase rabbits as pets, but end up setting them loose. 

"People get them and realize, 'oh, my goodness, this is a 10-year commitment. Interest in them wanes.'"

Davis says one way of getting these animals under control is having municipalities introduce bylaws preventing stores from selling them or requiring them to be spayed or neutered.

"Buy a chocolate bunny ... maybe not a real one," Davis says to avoid the growing problem.