What’s happening:
The City of Selkirk is working closely with the skilled animal rescue team at Popcorns & Binkies (P&B) to address the growing population of domesticated rabbits in our community. This initiative is focused on safely capturing, providing veterinary care, and rehoming these rabbits to ensure their health and well-being. P&B is organizing a series of “large-scale” and smaller trapping missions to safely remove the rabbits from public spaces.
When it’s happening:
The greatest success for trapping rabbits is at dusk and as such the first large-scale mission is scheduled for Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with the potential to continue until 10:00 PM, depending on the number of rabbits captured. A dedicated team of volunteers will be in concentrated areas working to rescue the rabbits. Smaller missions will also take place with up to six volunteers and have already started. To date, 11 bunnies have been rescued from the streets of Selkirk, all currently receiving care in Winnipeg.
The rescue team:
This rescue effort is being led by a team of compassionate and experienced volunteers with over a decade of experience in animal rescue. Each team will be managed by a “team captain,” who is a core volunteer, with additional volunteers from both Selkirk and surrounding areas joining in. 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.
Why the rabbits are being rescued:
While some residents may enjoy seeing these rabbits in their yards, the reality is these domesticated bunnies are not thriving in the wild. 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.
The goal is to provide these rabbits with full veterinary care, including:
- Health assessments
- RHD (Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease) vaccinations
- Spaying and neutering (unless otherwise advised by a vet)
- Finding them loving, safe homes where they can live long, healthy lives away from the dangers of the streets.
What’s next for the rabbits:
Once the rabbits are captured, they will be brought into care, where they will receive all necessary veterinary treatment. Afterward, P&B will work to find them appropriate and loving homes where they can live free from the risks and challenges of urban environments.
How the community can help:
- Allowing access to your property to set up feeding and trapping stations (Moody or Jemima).
- Respecting the rescue effort by allowing the rescue team space to complete their work. NOTE: the team has been trained to respect private property and will only enter areas where permission has been granted.
- Alerting P&B of rabbit sightings.
When reaching out, please provide the following information:
- Your name, address and contact information
- Address(es) of a rabbit sighting(s)
- Confirmation that we have permission to enter your property
- Any restrictions (e.g., specific times, prior notice needed)
Contact [email protected]
We appreciate the support of the community and ask that everyone remain patient and understanding as this work is carried out to ensure the rabbits are given the chance to live healthy, safe, and happy lives in the right homes.
For any questions related to the rescue mission or to offer assistance, please reach out to P&B directly at [email protected].
To reach the City of Selkirk with any questions or concerns, please reach out to CitizenSupport at [email protected] or 204-785-4900.
