*Editor’s note: interviews for this story were conducted earlier this year, prior to shelter-in-place orders.
By Thomas J. Sullivan–
Easter is here, and wild rabbits continue to be a familiar sight outside Sylvan Oaks Library in Citrus Heights, with the four-legged creatures apparently oblivious to the coronavirus pandemic.
Those who’ve visited the area in the mornings say it’s not unusual to see the rabbits with their long, pink ears, black button noses, and fluffy cotton tails hopping blissfully behind the library and near the tennis court in the early morning sun.
Morning yoga class participants at the nearby Crossroads Park Community Center say they often find a familiar floppy-eared audience outside the glass facing the creek, gently encouraging them on. Children visiting the library also enjoy seeing the rabbits.
“They’re just so adorable to watch,” said library patron and Citrus Heights resident Kristen Connor, whose children look forward to seeing the rabbits while at the library.
Children’s Librarian Janet Wininger, who is the go-to person for all things rabbit-related, said the furry creatures have been enjoying the library grounds and nearby areas since the 1980s, but the history of exactly how the rabbits came to call the area their home isn’t known by library staff.
“Many of the children know the Sylvan Oaks Library simply as ‘Bunny Park’, since they’ve been home here for so long,” she said.
Rabbit sightings at Sylvan Oaks Library are more common now as warmer spring weather has returned, according to Wininger. However, she said staff also saw “quite a few happy rabbits at play in the rain” earlier this year.
“The weather didn’t seem to bother them at all,” she said.
The wild rabbits are also a familiar sight to seniors in the nearby Crossroads Oaks Retirement Community at 6650 Crosswoods Circle.
Marketing Director Angelica Huizar, who conducts tours of the 122-unit property for prospective senior residents, said the rabbits are a beloved sight.
“Having the rabbits grazing here is often a great selling point,” she said, noting that around 20 rabbits regularly roam the grounds. “Many of our residents leave also food and water out for the rabbits and look forward to seeing them each day.”
Two hens also call the senior apartment complex home. The pair are adored by residents and roam around its four courtyards.
“I’ve seen the hen lay down for a nap between the two rabbits and just enjoy the sunshine,” Huizar said. “That’s quite a sight to see.”
According to the ASPCA, wild rabbits, like those found on the grounds of Sylvan Oaks Library and the surrounding Crosswoods Park area, have relatively short life spans (typically, less than two years). They mature quickly and have short, 30-day gestation periods.
Related: Wild turkeys are a familiar sight in Citrus Heights
Rabbits are famous for their ability to reproduce and can have several litters of four to seven kits a year. Given the many natural predators who may make meals of rabbits, the local wild rabbit population count at Sylvan Oaks Library is estimated to increase and decrease dramatically over the course of any given year.
During warmer seasons, rabbits will typically eat weeds, grasses, clover, wildflowers and vegetable plants, which are in abundant supply around the Sylvan Library. When the winter weather turns cold, rabbits tend to lay low as they will munch on twigs, buds, bark, conifer needles, and any remaining green plants.
While the wild rabbits enjoy a popular reputation with the public, a handful of complaints are received by Citrus Heights Animal Control. Spokeswoman Larissa Wasilevsky said complaints about the rabbits generally amount to about one percent of calls received by animal control. “It’s not a major problem in the city for animal control,” she said.
The 12,500-square-foot Sylvan Oaks Library at 6700 Auburn Blvd. was built in 1975 and underwent a major interior renovation last year, where the facility was closed for more than six months. While the library was closed for humans, the rabbits didn’t skip a beat.
*Editor’s note: This article refers to “wild” rabbits, as those living in the wild rather than as pets. Since publication of this article, several rabbit rescue groups have identified the kinds of rabbits found at Sylvan Oaks Library as being a domesticated breed.
