Council ponders rabbit rules

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star
Published: February 10, 2009 7:00 PM

Greater Vernon was once running wild with feral rabbits.

But thanks to the efforts of Vernon Rabbit Rescue over the last five years, rabbits no longer rule the streets and gardens of the community. “The feral rabbit population in Vernon is now virtually non-existent,” said Maurie Deaton, VRR founder.

The work VRR does is now being supported by Coldstream, which is considering a bylaw to ban the sale of unaltered rabbits and a bylaw to fine individuals who abandon pet rabbits into the community.

Even though Coldstream doesn’t have any pet stores in the district, Deaton says these steps are needed. “By implementing this ban Coldstream will be working pro-actively.”

The possibility of providing a grant to VRR will also be discussed at Coldstream’s upcoming budget deliberations.
Deaton and the volunteers with VRR provide free trapping for feral and abandoned rabbits in the region. The bunnies are then spayed or neutered, at VRR’s expense, and adopted to loving homes.

VRR relies on municipal grants and community donations to pay for spaying/neutering bunnies (at a cost of $100 each) and the costs of food and shelter for them while permanent homes are sought out.

“The cost of doing nothing would be much greater,” said Deaton, noting the damage rabbits can do both above and underground.
In Coldstream alone, VRR has trapped 12 rabbits since May 2008. One of those rabbits was pregnant and had a litter of nine, therefore a total 21 bunnies have been kept from running wild in Coldstream.

All of the rabbits were spayed and neutered, costing VRR $2,100. As a result, that is the amount VRR is requesting from Coldstream. “We are providing Coldstream residents a free service that no one else will provide to them,” said Deaton.

VRR’s request was recently turned down by the North Okanagan Regional District’s five electoral areas. Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director, said the rural areas have their own rabbit control via coyotes.

Deaton is pleased to see Coldstream on board with VRR, and says such efforts will keep Greater Vernon from ending up in with the same problems Kelowna is facing.

Comment: The City of Vernon is also investigating the feasibility of banning the sale of unaltered rabbits.