Letter: Nothing cute about UVic's rabbit problem
Times Colonist
Friday, September 12, 2008

If people were offloading their pet cats, dogs, parrots or miniature ponies at the University of Victoria, there would be a hue and cry.

I have been the devoted owner of pet rabbits.

I loved them. I know their happy traits and I know their pitfalls.

Bunnies reproduce at a phenomenal rate, rendering anything close to a neutering program practically impossible. They eat all the juicy bits in gardens and get fixated on the good stuff, ignoring their natural foods.

Domesticated rabbits have never eaten natural foods, having been raised on pellets and veggies. So sometimes they starve.

They are prey to bigger local wildlife, pets and people.

The people don't necessarily kill them, but do take them home for pets and then release them when the feral cuties bite and kick.

Has anyone out there heard of Australia, where the rabbit problem is beyond epidemic?

Irresponsible pet owners have released bunnies and guinea pigs at the university, telling their kids that Daisy and Sweetums would be happy with all their new bunny friends. This is an issue that should be considered prior to the purchase of any pet. What happens if it doesn't work out?

This summer I drove past UVic and saw a large raven feeding on a dead rabbit which had, no doubt, been hit by a car while running across the road.

People have created this problem; people need to "fix" it.

It won't get better with a chorus of "awwww, cute," and bunnies just don't get abstinence.

Sally Barker
Victoria