Although there are fewer city bunnies roaming Helsinki now, they have spread to new areas. Small inner city parks suffer from feral rabbits the most, since hunting for the animals is difficult there.
The exact number of city bunnies in the capital area is unknown. One thing is certain: they have come to stay.
“Rabbit regulations will have to continue for years to come,” says project manager Antti Rautiainen from the Helsinki City service provider Stara.
Helsinki spends about 300,000 euros each year on mapping and controlling its population of bunnies. The city puts efforts into protecting its greenery from rabbits’ sharp teeth.
Although the feral rabbits have chosen to live mostly in Helsinki, some have bounded all the way to Espoo. However, their ranks have thinned in Espoo, as well.
“There were about 300 wild rabbits in the city at most. At the moment, their numbers are in the dozens,” says entrepreneur Hannu Luoto, who has been asked by Espoo and Helsinki to reduce the rabbit population.
The numbers of city bunnies dwindle, but they are not giving up. In many places, the long-eared troublemakers have moved into apartment block courtyards, where they cannot be easily hunted.