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Rabbit trapping resumes

Rabbit trapping resumed on campus late last month following a BC Supreme Court decision on Aug. 30 to set aside an injunction that prohibited UVic from trapping and killing the animals that are proliferating on campus. The injunction was obtained by animal rights activist Roslyn Cassells on July 30.

While the injunction was in place, UVic continued to communicate with community organizations that applied for Ministry of Environment permits to operate sanctuaries for the rabbits and lined up veterinarians to sterilize the rabbits provided by UVic.

"We anticipate that there will be enough capacity in various sanctuaries to handle all the rabbits we intend to trap in the coming weeks," says Tom Smith, UVic's executive director of facilities management.

Currently permits covering three sites in BC and one in Texas have been approved. The permit holders are responsible for covering all costs related to rabbit sterilization and transportation.

As of Sept. 6, 109 campus rabbits had been trapped and provided to sanctuary operators.

The university wants to reduce its rabbit population significantly and hopes to trap 400 to 500 rabbits during September, primarily in the area of the university residences.

"We had hoped to complete our trapping before the students returned to campus," says Smith, "but due to the delay caused by the injunction, we'll suspend trapping during the busy orientation period. We'll keep in touch with the sanctuaries and notify them when trapping resumes."

The burgeoning rabbit population needs to be reduced because it constitutes a safety and possible health hazard on campus and causes substantial damage to campus grounds and vegetation. The rabbits are also migrating off campus and into the neighbouring community.

The rabbits are likely unwanted pets or the descendants of unsprayed or unneutered pets abandoned on campus by members of the community. UVic supports efforts by the BCSPCA to convince districts and municipalities to introduce bylaws prohibiting the sale of unsterilized pet rabbits.