Solving the issue of bunny overpopulation in Langley is a long way off, but school officials say they are tackling the problem.

Administrators discussed a number of methods to address the problem at the South Whidbey School District board meeting Wednesday night, and provided an update of their current efforts to slow the bunnies down. Maintenance Director Brian Miller recommended the board consider adding 1,600 feet of perimeter fencing to barricade rabbits from the Langley Middle School athletic fields and the inner campus area, as well as rabbit-proofing 1,500 feet of existing fencing.

Miller estimated the new fencing would cost $40,000 and updating existing fencing would be $15,000.

“This is an issue that is much bigger than the district and we’re not going to make a decision about the future of bunnies in Langley,” Miller said. “I’m hoping this can start a discussion so we can decide to do or not to do anything. In the meantime, we’re going to be as proactive as we can and focus on control efforts that I think can be effective and reasonable to pursue.”

Miller said efforts are being made to reduce habitat around the inner campus area of Langley Middle School and areas immediately surrounding the buildings to make the site less attractive to rabbits. The athletic fields are completely exposed, however, leading to a number of potholes. Over two dozen circular fences have been placed on the field to prevent injuries.

“They’ll dig six or eight inches down and create a hole clearly that’s large enough for someone to fall in,” Miller said. “We’ve had people get injured on our fields.”

Miller said as many as 60 bunnies have been spotted on the fields at one time. The non-native rabbits have even been spotted as far as the elementary and primary school campuses as well as the high school.

Next door, the Island County Fairgrounds are dealing with a similar problem and at a bigger volume. According to Melene Thompson, fairgrounds manager for the Port of South Whidbey, there have been as many as 86 bunnies counted frequenting the grounds in a single day.

“It’s a huge problem for everywhere you walk on the grounds,” Thompson said. “The campgrounds, the fairgrounds, in the barns, and the destruction on the buildings is huge as well. Although I can’t speak to what action the port would take, I know that it’s something we need to address.”

Langley Mayor Fred McCarthy offered a natural solution to the problem.

“The Department of Fish and Wildlife told us that this is a real long summer, let the natural predators deal with it and even though it seems overwhelming now, just like caterpillars did a year ago I think, a natural selection would occur and it will reduce the population,” McCarthy said.

The natural predators include coyotes, eagles and raccoons. McCarthy added that a benefit to installing the fencing at the middle school would be pushing the rabbits back into the woods, where their population would likely be reduced because of predators. But the most expedient and timely method, said McCarthy, would be to take more extreme measures.

“If you think you’re at a tipping point, which it sounds like you are, you’re probably going to have to opt for the more aggressive kind of strategy to get on top of it,” McCarthy said. “I would hope that the port, the city, and the school district could have some sort of mutual investment in addressing that.”

Monica Guzman, a Langley resident, said the bunnies’ presence is no longer appreciated.

“I put up a chicken fence, I have wires, I have wood, I have all kinds of stuff. There’s no way to stop those rabbits,” Guzman said. “I’m at war with the rabbits. I think something needs to be done. It’s not fun anymore. It’s a health hazard.”

Superintendent Jo Moccia said a community event where the public can voice their thoughts on the matter is in the works.