The University
of Victoria has revised
its long-term feral rabbit management plan to eliminate the proposed
‘rabbit control zone’ from the interior of the campus and designate
the entire campus ‘rabbit free.’
Over 800 rabbits have been removed from campus through
permits granted by the Province
of BC, and less than 50
rabbits remain. These permits to remove rabbits expire as of March 31, 2011
and, with the support of the permit-holders, UVic plans to remove all the
remaining rabbits from campus by the end of February.
The original rabbit management plan called for a rabbit
control zone in the central part of campus to be home to a population of about
200 sterilized rabbits. But the permit holders have suggested to UVic that it
move out all the rabbits now, while it’s still possible.
UVic Facilities
Management Executive Director Tom Smith adds that a rabbit control zone would
also encourage pet owners to continue to abandon pet rabbits on
campus—the original source of UVic’s out-of-control rabbit
population.
“The permit holders have worked very hard to take more
rabbits from us than we had thought would be possible,” says Smith.
“But their permits to remove rabbits expire soon. We’d like to use
the next few weeks to move all of the rabbits into sanctuaries while we can and
before the next breeding season begins.”
Although the campus rabbit population was estimated at 1,400
to 1,600 last summer, it was reduced more quickly than anticipated through
increased predation by birds of prey on the significantly reduced remaining
population, the decreased seasonal reproduction rate, and the success of the
rabbit removal program.
“The permit holders, the BCSPCA, and neighbouring
community associations support us in this effort to remove all rabbits from
campus to sanctuaries,” says Smith. “While UVic is willing to
dedicate some resources to rabbit removal, it is unrealistic for the university
to divert funding to this task in perpetuity. After Feb. 28, any rabbit found
on campus will be humanely trapped and killed.”
UVic will continue to support the BCSPCA in its attempt to encourage
area municipalities to adopt by-laws prohibiting the sale of non-sterilized
rabbits and the abandonment of rabbits.
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