Neighbor Reports Rabbits Being Poisoned And Danger Or Other Animals Also Being Poisoned

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information from a neighbor:

I have had a series of dead rabbits in my yard from being poisoned.  

How can we tell our neighbors to not use rat poison if they are not experiencing a rat problem?  If another animal gets a hold of the dead rabbit, they will die as well. 

I don’t mind having wild rabbits in my yard. They are harmless.

The Laurelhurst Community Club recently published this information in their newsletter:

Encourage Pesticide-free Garden Practices  

LCC supports efforts to educate neighbors about gardening without pesticides and using safer alternatives to promote a healthy environment.  

Why not use pesticides? The devastating effects of pesticides can include neuro-toxics, endocrine disruption, sensitizers/irritants leading to allergies, and cancer. They’ve also been linked to Parkinson’s. Pesticides are tracked into our homes and also drain into the soil and contaminate streams and lakes (think, Beach Club) where they affect humans, environment, and sea life. If you use a spraying company, insist on an organic, safe solution. 

Refrain from using toxic pesticides and instead opt for safer lawn and garden alternatives. Contact Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC) at 632-1545 for  information on products and pest control. Visit King County’s website or contact the Natural Lawn and Garden Hotline weekdays at 633-0224.  

Let’s work together to reduce the use of toxic pesticides, and keep Laurelhurst beautiful and safe.

Why So Many Rabbits In The Neighborhood?

The Laurelhurst Blog has received many reports of rabbit sightings recently, especially in the last few weeks, across the neighborhood. 

Neighbors comments received included:

We are very concerned with what seems to be a recent population growth of rabbits in the neighborhood. They are chewing our plantings down to the root, and some have died unfortunately.   

Our dogs have been sick lately, from what we were told, was eating rabbit waste on a neighbor's lawn.  

When we take our dogs out in the evening there are always about five rabbits running around on various streets. Has there been an increase lately in the population? 

Why are there so many rabbits lately?  They are everywhere it seems like and all over the neighborhood. They are eating my garden,  I appreciate the coyotes for predation but they have exploded far outside the Center for Urban Horticulture. It seems the rabbits are coming over from there then up from the lake and moving into the neighborhood.   

We generally walk our dogs late in the evening. The rabbits are out almost every night darting across the street into neighbor's yards.   

I have had a series of dead rabbits in my yard from being poisoned. How can we tell our neighbors to not use rat poison if they are not experiencing a rat problem? If another animal gets a hold of the dead rabbit, they will die as well. 

I don’t mind having wild rabbits in my yard. They are harmless.  

I don't believe that the coyotes should be exterminated at Yesler swamp or at Talaris. I have a lot of rabbits in my yard and they are one of the small animals that coyotes eat. I am a big proponent of letting nature balance the cycle of life and the ecosystem exactly as it is designed to do. 

Since the killing of coyotes in 2016 in the neighborhood, we have been inundated with rabbits and rats, never a problem before. Please bring back the coyotes.

The USDA said there has been an upswing in the rabbit population throughout western Washington.  This is a good reason to have the coyotes around.  

Larry Hubbell, who published his own local birding blog, Union Bay Watch, documenting wildlife at Union Bay told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff:

I would guess that they are reproducing well because there are lots of healthy plants in private yards and also perhaps maybe some get released, accidentally or on purpose.  

The creatures that I think might keep their population under control are the bald eagles, red-tailed hawks and coyotes, the biggest factor in the city.  The eagles prefer fish and the hawks like to work over open grass,  beside the freeways, or fields.

Deer Sightings Near Talaris And Lots of Rabbits

Deer spotted at
Center for Urban Horticulture

The Laurelhurst Blog has received emails from several neighbors about seeing deer:

A male deer walked by our house on NE 41st Street and walked along the Talaris grass then headed west.

Last week a deer walked by our house on NE 38th Street and 42nd Avenue NE.  We watched it walk around the corner at the bottom of Suicide Hill. 

We saw a deer at the Union Bay Natural Area.  I hope this young buck finds a doe to join him before Fall. This deer is a nice addition to the great charm of UBNA.  Hopefully no one will feel the need to murder him as the Talaris owner did to the three resident coyotes.

A representative from the Center of Urban Horticulture said:

We have seen the buck around a fair amount.  It is a great pleasure.  We think they are swimming in from other locations.  Let’s hope there is a female coming.

Neighbors are also curious about the rabbits in the area saying:

Seems as if there has been an explosion in the number of rabbits in the neighborhood.  I noticed it way before SDOT's "restoration" work began, and before the 3 coyotes were murdered at Talaris. Rabbits (cottontails?), young as well as mature, can now be seen pretty much everywhere in the Town of Yesler, as well as in UBNA of course.  I have seen them, mainly late in the day,  anywhere south of 44th street, as far as I am concerned..

A representative from the Center of Urban Horticulture said:

When I spoke with the USDA regarding the coyote incident we chatted about the upswing in the rabbit population.  It is apparently a peak throughout western Washington.  This was a good reason to have the coyotes around.  The rabbits have been seen in large numbers all over Seattle.