Kelowna City Council vowed to do all it could to save as many wild rabbits as possible.

Council voted Monday to accept a $54,000 bid from EBB Environmental Consulting to rid Kelowna streets of the growing rabbit population, but stipulated the company should do all it can to keep culling to a minimum.

"Okay, so commit political suicide, I will move the original motion, but I still want staff to consult with EBB about moving forward with consultations to avoid the cull," says Councilor, Norm Letnick.

"That's the priority for me."

The recommendations were made by Forestry Supervisor, Ian Wilson.

Letnick says staff will also look at whether there are non-profit groups who are willing to accept the rabbits once they are trapped and what the cost of that might be.

"I think staff have heard loud and clear from the community and from council that anything they can do to reduce or eliminate the cull, with the least impact on taxpayers, would be seen in a positive light by the community. Staff are excellent in trying to accommodate council's needs."

Parks Manager, Joe Creron, says a minimal cull would be the ideal situation, adding it would likely be cheaper for EBB if some group came along and took the rabbits at no cost.

"I think we will find a solution here. It may not be the perfect solution according to some groups, but it's going to be the best solution to solve the problem," says Creron.

Sinikka Crosland, spokesperson for The Responsible Animal Protection Society,(TRACS) says her group would need to be compensated in order to take rabbits from EBB.

"Why would EBB get $54,000 for the year and we would be doing all the work of looking after them for nothing at our cost," says Crosland.

"I find that highly unfair. I wish this whole situation could be revisited."

TRACS was one of the unsuccessful bidders for the rabbit control contract.

Crosland presented assembled media with a copy of TRACS proposal, which came in at just under $100,000 over three years.

The presentation also showed targets of catching 400 or more rabbits over that period of time.

Creron indicated the proposal from EBB provided a catch of a minimum of 1,200 rabbits during the first year.

It is estimated there are more than 2,000 rabbits running wild in Kelowna.

Creron meantime, warned council if it wants to look at preserving the rabbits, there could be additional, on-going costs.

"It is not only the capital cost today. These rabbits last 15 years, so you're going to have to be putting operating money into these groups for 15 years to help for the pens and the feed and I don't what that cost is just yet."