Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: January 29, 2009 6:00 PM
Restrictions could ultimately be in place on the sale of rabbits in Vernon. Council instructed staff Monday to investigate the feasibility of a bylaw banning the sale of rabbits that have not been spayed or neutered. Coun. Buffy Baumbrough, who raised the issue, believes something needs to be done to keep a handle on the feral rabbit population. “When you look at Kelowna and the issues they have had, it’s prudent to investigate the selling of unaltered rabbits,” she said. In Kelowna, officials have had to launch a program in which feral rabbits are trapped and killed. But that move has been controversial and Baumbrough wants to avoid a similar scene in Vernon. “It could have a positive situation before it gets out of hand,” she said of spaying and neutering rabbits. Vernon’s feral rabbit colony began when some residents released domestic animals and didn’t care for them any more. Because of the species’ ability to breed, the population exploded (a female rabbit can have a litter every 28 days – with an average of four to six young per litter). Coun. Bob Spiers is willing to lend his support to a proposed bylaw. “I suggested a year ago that stores shouldn’t be able to sell rabbits without them being spayed or neutered. It’s common sense,” he said.
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