The University of Victoria is coming up with alternate plans to keep the blossoming rabbit population under control. (Photo by Gemma Karstens-Smith/Martlet)

Tweet Email

VICTORIA (CUP) — The University of Victoria is gearing up for another rabbit capture after previous attempts this year have seen the population dwindle by only a few hundred.

The university now has two more trappings scheduled for the coming weeks, in an effort to reduce the population of rabbits by about 500. The long-term management plan aims to take the numbers from 1,600 down to 200, allowing the remaining rabbits to live in restricted zones on campus.

“Our plan right now is to create rabbit-free zones,” said Tom Smith, facilities management executive director. “While we were able to reduce the population over the summer, there were many more bunnies born this season, so it’s hard to tell where we’re sitting now.”

At the end of August, the university trapped 69 rabbits and sent them to different sanctuaries on and around Vancouver Island. Another 40 were sent to a Texas facility. Currently, there is space for close to 400 more rabbits on the Island and 1,000 in Texas.

In May, the university euthanized 104 rabbits. The cull brought the university an injunction in July, however, after animal rights activist Roslyn Cassells and others took the university to court and they were ordered to cease-fire. The university appealed the decision and the injunction was lifted a month later, allowing facilities management to humanely trap the animals.

Smith said that until a further plan is developed, facilities management intends on following court orders and will release all captured rabbits to sanctuaries so long as there is room.

Cassells said she has not been pleased with the university’s actions overall, but hopes they will stay true to their word when it comes to finding homes for the evicted rabbits.

“When it comes to marginalized communities, and this includes animals, people need to stand up for those who don’t have voices for themselves,” she said. “This has been an ethical issue from the beginning.”

She said the university has worked well with placing the recently trapped rabbits in sanctuaries, but her hope is that they keep capturing at a rate that will allow adoptive facilities enough time to process the animals. She fears too many rabbits at once could still mean those turned away would be euthanized.

“The community has gone to great time and expense to clean up [the University of Victoria’s] negligent mess and, ultimately, we thank them for letting us do that,” said Cassells.

“Humans need to take responsibility for the way this situation has played out, for blatant human disregard with the lives of the rabbits, and work on the laws governing such actions.”

Currently, all trapped rabbits have been placed in sanctuaries approved by the B.C. Ministry of Environment. The rabbits must be spayed or neutered and be supplied with a large outdoor pen. The ministry keeps surveillance over the creatures for up to 10 years.

Cassells explained that now, in order for the university to keep even a few rabbits in restricted zones, it will likely face the same requirements — purchasing a $55-per-year permit from the ministry, tattooing the rabbits for identification and providing them with the required services.

“We’ll be keeping a close eye on [the university’s] actions and hope all goes well,” said Cassells. “We’re thankful for all who have dedicated and donated their time to this issue. It’s been a huge team effort.”

Smith explained the university plans on taking a break from the rabbit issue while school is in session and will resume the captures in November.

“We might revise our plan of action if new and better ideas spring up,” said Smith, adding that many wouldn’t mind seeing all the rabbits find new homes.

“As long as there are rabbits at [the university], people will just continue to drop more [unwanted pets] off here and we’ll be faced with this ongoing problem.”

-30-