Booming rabbit population forces Selkirk to take action

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A southern Manitoba community is taking action to deal with a rapidly growing population of domesticated rabbits officials said.

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The City of Selkirk said officials have become increasingly concerned about a growing population of feral domesticated rabbits and will soon begin work on a “large scale” capture operation, as they try to get a handle on the situation.

“This initiative is focused on safely capturing, providing veterinary care, and rehoming these rabbits to ensure their health and well-being,” the city said.

Selkirk officials will now work with local animal rescue organization Popcorns & Binkies (P&B) to carry out the operation.

“P&B is organizing a series of large-scale and smaller trapping missions to safely remove the rabbits from public spaces,” the city said.

The first capture operation is now scheduled to begin on Saturday, Nov. 23 beginning at 4 p.m., as the city said the greatest chances for capturing rabbits comes at dusk.

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“A dedicated team of volunteers will be in concentrated areas working to rescue the rabbits,” the city said. “Smaller missions will also take place with up to six volunteers, and have already started.

“The team will be working with the support of local homeowners who already granted permission to use their properties to set up feeding and trapping stations, making this mission possible, as well as with the RCMP, to alleviate public concerns and ensure this effort is done safely.”

The city added that, to date, 11 bunnies have been rescued from the streets of Selkirk and all are currently receiving care in Winnipeg.

The city stressed their main concern is the health and welfare of the domesticated animals that were not bred to live outside or to fend for themselves in the wild, or deal with Manitoba’s often harsh winter climate.

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“While some residents may enjoy seeing these rabbits in their yards, the reality is these domesticated bunnies are not thriving in the wild,” the city said. “They face significant risks such as malnutrition, disease, and predation. Many of the rabbits already rescued have already shown health deficiencies, largely due to poor nutrition and environmental conditions.

“We appreciate the support of the community and ask that everyone remain patient and understanding as this work is carried out.”

— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

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