When a small group of seven of us went west into the Rocky Mountains on 15th December, to take part in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count in Canmore, I was keeping my fingers crossed that the town hadn't got rid of all the wild European Rabbits. They were causing problems, such as attracting too many Coyotes into the residential areas. No doubt the local people didn't appreciate their gardens being ruined by the nibbling teeth of these non-native wild animals. Some are dark grey, some brown, others are a mix of black and white. The latter, especially, always look so out of place running loose - they look as if they have escaped their cages. You just feel you want to pick one up and cuddle it : ) Anyway, we saw eight of these "bunnies", but this was the only one that gave me a chance to get a half-decent photo. Other photos weren't even remotely sharp, for some reason.

Species seen by our group after walking for eight hours, covering the SW part of Canmore:

Mallard-191
Common Goldeneye-3
Common Merganser-1 f.
WILSON'S SNIPE-1
Rock Pigeon-5
Downy Woodpecker-1
Clark's Nutcracker-10
Black-billed Magpie-26
Common Raven-30
Black-capped Chickadee-6
Mountain Chickadee-26
Boreal Chickadee-1
Red-breasted Nuthatch-3
Pine Grosbeak-2 f
White-winged Crossbill-10
Common Redpoll-1
House Sparrow-10

In a Calgary Herald newspaper article from 15th December 2010, it said that "Canmore Mayor Ron Casey is taking aim at the picturesque Alberta town's rascally rabbits. Casey, who said the animals are attracting predators such as cougars, has secured support for a $50,000 budget to deal with feral rabbits."