Wilton Manors rabbit colony grows, frustrates Jenada Isle neighbors

Dozens of rabbits were again hopping through Jenada Isles in Wilton Manors, where neighbors say a colony that began with illegally dumped domestic pets has grown into a neighborhood maintenance problem. Residents said the animals are showing up on lawns, sidewalks and in yards, where they are digging holes, chewing grass and damaging landscaping in the 81-home community.

The problem traces back to a breeder who illegally released rabbits in the area when moving away, leaving behind animals that were never fully rehomed. Those rabbits kept reproducing, and city officials later estimated the colony at about 60 to 100 animals. The scale of the issue pushed it onto the Wilton Manors City Commission agenda on April 25, 2023, when commissioners weighed what to do next and first discussed extermination before giving rescue supporters more time to respond.

City spokesperson Aimee Adler Cooke said the commission decided on "researching and developing a plan pertaining to the bunnies." That pause opened the door to a rescue push led in part by resident Alicia Griggs, who helped seek $20,000 to $40,000 to cover the cost of capturing, neutering, vaccinating, sheltering and rehoming the rabbits. Earlier rescue efforts used traps, hands and sometimes nets, and some residents fed the rabbits, a habit that helped the colony persist.

Animal advocate Jacey Birch walked the neighborhood and found holes scattered across the island while checking how many rabbits were still living there. One resident said there could be as many as 60 in the area, a number that matches the city’s earlier estimate closely enough to show how established the colony has become. The rabbits had earlier been identified as domestic lionhead rabbits, a breed with thick fur and a flowing mane that is poorly suited to South Florida heat and outdoor life.

For neighbors, the issue has moved far beyond a strange local story. The rabbits are still visible enough to draw attention, but the complaints now center on damaged yards, repeated digging and the cost of keeping properties in shape while the colony continues to reproduce.