Update on Rabbits From UVIC Shot at Coombs Sanctuary

COOMBS — A newly fortified rabbit compound passed its initial inspection by Environment Ministry staff Thursday, saving, for the moment, more than 200 former University of Victoria rabbits.

"This is much better than it was," said Mike Stalberg, the ministry's fish and wildlife section head, as he looked at the heavy-duty wire runs and double gates at the Coombs refuge.
A report will be made to senior ministry officials before any further steps are taken, he said.
"It is an in-between situation. There's still some more work being conducted, but there are some noticeable improvements."

After dozens of rabbits escaped from the sanctuary this month, 30 were shot by a trapper hired by neighbour Barbara Smith, who fears the rabbits pose a threat to her horses, which she keeps in a field next door.

Smith is also angry that the ministry approved a rabbit sanctuary in an agricultural area.
Susan Vickery, who set up the sanctuary, was told to fix the problem of escaping rabbits or the animals would be seized by the ministry.

That would likely mean the rabbits would have to be put down because of a shortage of sanctuary space.

The temporary go-ahead was a relief, Vickery said.
"I know we have to work fast to get it done," she said.
One key to keeping feral rabbits captive is inner and outer fences with extra wire at the bottom sloping inwards.

The escape problem arose because "there was a deviation" from the original plans for two levels of barriers, Stalberg said.

That would not happen again, said Vickery, who has two people working on replacing all the fences.

"We are racing to get this up to spec and we won't bring in any more rabbits until it is done," she said.

So far, about 400 rabbits have been trapped at UVic, but the aim is to capture, sterilize and relocate hundreds more because of damage they cause to the grounds and sports fields.
Vickery is slowly recapturing escaped bunnies and pledged Thursday to step up the pace.
Around the grounds of the Parrot Refuge and in the area bordering the neighbour's field, rabbits can be seen grazing or lying in the sun.

Smith has forbidden volunteers from going onto her land to recapture rabbits. Even those on home turf are not easily convinced to hop into the live traps.

However, there were far fewer loose rabbits than seen previously, Stalberg said.
In the compound, rabbits eat hay and cut-up vegetables, or graze on thistles and grass.
Those that have not yet been sterilized are caged and the moms-and-babies are also kept separately.

"We have had five litters," Vickery said.
All females have an ultrasound before being spayed. If they are pregnant, they are allowed to give birth before being sterilized.

jlavoie@timescolonist.comRead more: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Upgraded+rabbit+security+Coombs+sanctuary+gets+first+approval/3674672/story.html#ixzz13P8iItgW

Bludgeoned Raccoons

Raccoon deaths prompt B.C. SPCA investigatio

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The B.C. SPCA is probing allegations that a Vancouver Island man killed two raccoons with a hockey stick.

Witness James Adams, who lives in the Victoria suburb of Esquimalt, said he saw his neighbour bludgeon the two raccoons and throw their bodies into a bush on Sunday night.

"I heard the mother squealing and then he came over and he opened the garbage can and then pulled out the baby and the baby was still alive," said witness James Adam.

"I saw him hit the baby at least 10 times with the hockey stick."

Adam said he believes the man was angry because the raccoons are constantly getting into his unsecured garbage cans.

Erika Paul, an SPCA animal protection officer, attended the scene and found the bodies of an adult female and a young kit.

Paul is also a special provincial constable and can enforce any laws pertaining to the humane treatment of animals.

She said the most important piece of her investigation is how the raccoons were killed.

"Raccoons are considered pests under the Wildlife Act. People do have the legal right to terminate a raccoon that is damaging their property [but] if they do decide to terminate, it has to be done in a humane method," she said.

"I don't believe bludgeoning falls under the category of … humane legal standards, so that's what we'll be investigating here."

Paul said the cause of death won't be known until a post-mortem exam is completed.

Paul said her office gets a lot of phone calls from people who suspect their neighbours are trapping and treating wildlife inhumanely.

She said all such calls are investigated to determine whether or not an offense has been committed.

To avoid the problem altogether, Paul said it's important to eliminate attractants like garbage and fruit on the ground.
She also said residents should refrain from feeding raccoons.
For those looking to remove pests from their property, Paul recommends hiring a wildlife control company to set a live trap and remove the unwanted visitor.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/07/20/bc-esquimalt-raccoons-deaths-spca.html#ixzz0uLpnavgL