A Delicate Balance

 By Maryanna Gabriel

Speaking of rabbits, we used to never have to worry about lettuce. Or spinach, chard, or beets. It was a gardener's paradise and we did not know it. Until. Until a woman who lived on Salt Spring Island moved the rabbits from the University of Victoria and brought them here because they were about to be euthanized. She thought she was doing a good thing. As these things go, it did not take long for the rabbits to become an invasive species. 

It upset the balance of nature. Suddenly owls and other birds of prey were not feeding on rodents, rather, they were selecting the tastier rabbits. Our rodent population exploded. So now we have two problems. 

In recent conversation with an expert on the subject, I was told the woman had to leave the island. I guess so. Just as the animals were rebalancing their hunting habits, so were humans. I think I better go check on the garden.