Unfortunately my support of Desert Botanical Garden now ends...

[AZBlue]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0811Rabbits0810.html

"Garden workers combat the problem by building fences and placing nets around vegetation. They also use traps to catch and release the rabbits. They even use cats to try to keep the population down. When none of those measures work, employees kill the rabbits by shooting them. It is a practice some call inhumane and ineffective."

Yeah, I'd have to agree with that. I realize the rabbits eat the plants, but isn't the DBG supposed to embrace the philosophy of living with nature, not destroying it?

The article goes on to say: "Still, the decision to shoot the animals does not sit well with Laura Simon, field director for Urban Wildlife Program with Humane Society of the United States...Beyond philosophy, Simon says the policy is misguided. 'Shooting doesn't work. The rabbits come back. They are very resilient.' Simon suggested better fencing and a more comprehensive trapping program."

Sounds like a much better idea to me!

[Kali]

1. exterminating or starving?

I have a relative that lives just on the other side of the canal in a desert neighborhood. The rabbits are a real problem, they kill any plants that aren't protected. Talk about overgrazing!


Killing rabbits hardly constitutes "destroying nature". Things are out of balance, what are you going to do? They need more coyotes, but think about the location and risks to those animals if they were more abundant in that area. I see killing some of the rabbits as a (poor) substitute for natural predation.

[NoodleBoy]

2. word

now, if those rabbits had been given a real sex education in school, we wouldn't be having this problem-- rabbits will be rabbits, and just telling them not to have sex is not a deterrent.

[Luna_Chick]

3. Hmm, a new market for bunny prophylactics?

You are too funny, NoodleBoy. :rofl: