Council to Discuss Wild Rabbit Population Control

At tonight’s meeting, Moorpark City Council members will discuss means of controlling wild rabbit populations and, if they decide to follow the lead of cities like So. Cal’s Mission Viejo, they could change city code to allow for professional pest control specialists to shoot the rabbits.

At the council’s Nov. 2 meeting, Council Member Mark VanDam asked that discussion of the wild rabbit population be added to a future meeting agenda. Wild rabbits have caused vegetation damage, causing significant expense according to individual Moorpark residents and home owner associations who have contacted the city.

City staff members have looked into possible solutions including target hardening—which includes things like fencing and the use of repellents—trapping, poisoning and shooting, and, in a report to the council, suggest experts point to shooting as the best option.

Brush rabbits, which are the most indigenous wild rabbit in the city, according to the report, can be legally hunted in the state with a license from July 1 through Jan. 1. In addition, California Department of Fish and Game does not prohibit property owners or those who have written authorization from them from killing cottontail or brush rabbits during any time of the year when they are damaging crops or foraging, the report said.

However, the city of Moorpark has a municipal code that prohibits the discharge of firearms, including air-powered pellet guns (shooting of rabbits is usually done with a small caliber gun or air-powered pellet rifle) within city borders unless it is to lawfully defending life or property.

In the report, staff suggested an amendment to the municipal code could be made to allow permitted and licensed pest control companies, veterinarians or similar animal control professionals to use projectile weapons for control of animals that are destructive to vegetation.

The council will meet and discuss the issue, along with a vacancy on the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council, a sports field rental policy, policy to fill vacant elected positions and a new policy regarding tickets to the at 7 p.m. at , 799 Moorpark Ave. (Click here for the full agenda.)