This is the problem that hunting solves. Issue licenses to allow people who enjoy the sport and like to eat small game to go out and harvest some number of animals. You get the population reduction, and the people who enjoy it get to eat wild game. You control the amount of animals harvested by the number of licenses issued (and some expenses for enforcement, but there are people willing to do that job for not much pay).

Seems more sensible than rounding the animals up en-masse and dumping them in an incinerator.

There isn't much meat to be had from chickens either. I'm sure there are butchers who wouldn't mind free rabbits, because now they pay for them.

Hmm that could be a reason. Is there realistic danger?

They might if they tried it! It's quite like poultry, the flavour is not at all challenging to anyone that eats chicken.

It was once common to eat them in Sydney; in fact my dad tells of a rabbit man that would sell them door-to-door when he was growing up. It was so common that they named the Rugby League team in the area after the tasty critters (the South Sydney Rabbitohs).

Really? Rabbit’s tasty. Hare’s nicer though if you can find it.

There are people who would, because they sell it. I like rabbit(s), but it's quite hard to find.

People do eat rabbit. and it's delicious, though it's a pain to deal with all those little bones.

Two McRabbit and fries, to go please

This was my sister's take when my Dad would prepare the rabbits he hunted for dinner. Some how, she had no problem eating an ugly old cow (or deer, for that matter).

Just further demonstrates the benefits of being cute.