Vancouver airport has hired someone to shoot and kill its unwanted rabbit population
Update, June 23: YVR announced Wednesday that it has suspended its rabbit culling program after "hearing from the community on different options." More information can be found here. The original story follows.
RICHMOND, B.C. -- For the past few weeks, a man with an active firearm has been shooting rabbits located near the hotel at Vancouver International Airport in the middle of the night.
CTV News Vancouver has learned a contractor was hired to do the culling, and more rabbits are scheduled to be shot on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Notices have been sent out advising staff of the work.
But airport employees told CTV News they did not know the culling was already taking place, until a worker arrived for a night shift and was frightened when she saw a man in the parking lot with a rifle.
“It is a public relations nightmare, and it’s cruel,” said Sorelle Saidman, founder of the Rabbitats Rescue Society. “These rabbits are very friendly. They don’t know to run from people, they would probably run towards the person with the gun, and to end their lives that way for no reason is disgusting.”
Sorelle’s organization urged YVR to relocate the rabbits in November 2019, before the population got out control. Back then there were about 50 bunnies grazing on the airport lawn, but of course they kept multiplying.
This year, she said her team offered to help once more, but was turned-down again.
“Certainly there’s all kinds of non-lethal solutions,” said Lesley Fox of the advocacy group The Fur-Bearers.
“I think we need reassurance from YVR that we have exhausted all non-lethal options.”
Airport officials denied CTV News’ request for an interview and instead provided a statement. It emphasized that safety was a top priority.
“We’re committed to ensuring safe aircraft operations and work hard to mitigate potential wildlife interactions,” the statement read. “Our current approach follows best practices and has been endorsed by representatives from the Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resource Operations.”
Other international airports have reported hares taking over runways and getting tangled in equipment. They can also attract birds and coyotes, which can be dangerous to aircraft.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.