U.S. animal rights group's plan to rescue Alberta town's feral rabbits hits a snag

An Alberta mountain community with an out-of-control feral rabbit population appears to be balking at an 11th-hour offer of aid from a U.S.-based animal protection group.

Canmore, located on the eastern edge of Banff National Park 110 kilometres west of Calgary, has made international headlines and faced the wrath of animal lovers for its plan to destroy about 2,000 rabbits. It has hired a contractor to trap the long-eared animals and have them gassed if a deal can't be worked out with a local animal welfare group to sterilize and relocate them.

Two weeks ago, the Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a non-profit animal protection organization based in Washington, D.C., offered to take care of the rabbit infestation by trapping, transporting, spaying and neutering them before placing them in a new home.

The group's founder told The Canadian Press on Monday that it doesn't look like the town is going to accept the help given the provisions it is calling for.

Scotlund Haisley said he received a response from Canmore last week inviting his group to resubmit a sanctuary proposal for the rabbits. The town said that for a new plan to be considered, it would require details on a pre-approved sanctuary and an agreement to work with the company hired to get rid of the rabbits.

Haisley said the group can't specify a sanctuary in advance until it knows more about the type and number of rabbits it is dealing with. And until the town commits to abandoning its catch-and-kill plan, the two can't work together.

"I'm not very optimistic that it will work out," Haisley said in a telephone interview from Washington. "Obviously our proposal remains — it is in the hands of the town council. Our offer remains in leading an efficient and effective operation."

Canmore's mayor said the whole issue has been blown out of proportion.

Ron Casey said the town set out clear criteria for any groups interested in saving the rabbits and the U.S. organization is just being asked to abide by the rules.

"We had been very clear right from the beginning (that) we had a set of criteria that we were asking anyone that runs rescue operations to meet," said Casey.

"We had simply responded to them like we did with everybody else — they had to meet the criteria about a sanctuary being identified. They need to be able to track the animals. They need to be able to show they can doctor them, feed them, spay them, neuter them and that sort of thing," he added.

"We're not about to pass this problem on to somebody else and we're not about to do it irresponsibly."

Casey said there's concern about the rescue group planning to round up the rabbits using volunteers as opposed to professional trappers. He said the town is still happy to work with Haisley ARC if it can put a program together.

"You're never going to make everyone happy on this. That's not even in the ballpark."

Haisley said he has never had authorities in a community refuse an offer to help.

"It is what it is. We've proposed it and it appears that the community has not accepted our proposal and that's unfortunate."

The rabbits were originally pets but were released in the 1990s and started doing what bunnies do best. Now, according to Canmore officials, the population has hit the 2,000 mark — one rabbit for every six people in the town of 12,000.

The town has said the rabbits are too plentiful and could attract cougars and coyotes looking for an easy snack.

According to the ARC website, its mandate is to end animal suffering through direct and compassionate action, and to inspire the highest ethical standards of humanity towards animals.

It promises to rescue animals that fall victim to abuse and natural disaster, to create public awareness of animal suffering and to offer training and assessments for animal shelters, professionals and volunteers.

This isn't the first sojourn into Canada for ARC. In November, it collected more than 200 roaming dogs from Lac Simon, a First Nations community about six hours north of Montreal. The group also operated a free sterilization clinic for residents' animals.