The Martlet

UVic is gearing up for another rabbit capture, after efforts earlier this year reduced the population by a few hundred.

The university 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 approximately 1,600 to 200, with the remaining rabbits being contained within Ring Road.

“Our plan right now is to create rabbit-free zones,” said Tom Smith, executive director of UVic Facilities Management.

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

“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,” said Smith.

Back in May, UVic euthanized 104 rabbits in the sports field areas. However, the cull was put on hold by an injunction in July, after animal rights activist Roslyn Cassells and others took the university to court. UVic appealed the decision and, one month later, the injunction was lifted, allowing Facilities Management to continue to trap the rabbits.

Smith says 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.

The university just disposed of the remains of the original 104 rabbits in the first week of September. Officials were initially unsure of how to dispose of the bodies because the euthonal injected into them would harm any creatures that consumed the remnants. Eventually, they were taken to the Capital Regional District landfill, where a deep hole was dug and the bodies were covered under a few feet of debris.

Cassells says she has not been pleased with the university’s actions overall, but hopes UVic will stay true to its 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.”

Cassells says UVic has worked well with placing the recently-trapped rabbits in sanctuaries.

However, she hopes they keep capturing at a rate that will allow adoptive facilities enough time to process the animals, as too many rabbits at once could mean that those turned away would be euthanized.

“The community has gone to great time and expense to clean up UVic’s negligent mess, and, ultimately, we thank them for letting us do that,” she said. “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 that have not been euthanized 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 may keep surveillance over the creatures for up to 10 years.

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

Smith says the university plans on taking a break from the rabbit issue and will resume the captures come November.

“We might revise our plan of action if new and better ideas spring up,” said Smith, who adds that many wouldn’t mind seeing all the rabbits find new homes. “As long as there are rabbits at UVic, people will just continue to drop more [unwanted pets] off here, and we’ll be faced with this ongoing problem.”

For more information on how to obtain a ministry permit, or find out more about the rabbit issue, visit uvic.ca/rabbits.