Don’t Let the Easter Bunny Loose this year!
New Brunswick Invasive Species Council (NBISC) Fredericton, New Brunswick - As part of the “Don’t Let it Loose” campaign (https://www.nbinvasives.ca/dont-let-it-loose) the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council is urging people this Easter, to choose a plush bunny over a live rabbit to prevent harm to animals and the environment.
With Easter just around the corner, many families are gearing up for the festivities, and it is not uncommon for cute and fluffy bunnies to make an appearance as gifts. While the gesture may seem innocent and endearing, there is a dark side to giving real bunnies as Easter presents. Domesticated rabbits, those commonly kept as pets, can be wonderful companions when given proper care and attention. Unfortunately, when they are given as surprise Easter gifts, many people are not prepared to take on that level of care for up to 10 years.
Unwanted Easter bunnies, when owners are unable or unwilling to care for them, are often released into the wild. While this may seem compassionate, it poses cruelty to the rabbits and environmental hazards. These animals lack the essential skills to survive outside of domestic settings, exposing them to predators, starvation, and harsh weather conditions. Moreover, their presence can lead to overpopulation, habitat destruction, and the transmission of diseases, including rabbit hemorrhagic fever, which has seen recent outbreaks in North America.
By giving bunnies as Easter presents without proper consideration, we inadvertently contribute to the potential release of these animals into non-native environments. Once unleashed, their impact can be irreversible, negatively affecting local flora and fauna.
This Easter let's make a conscious effort to celebrate responsibly and ensure that our gestures of kindness don't inadvertently harm the environment.
As the "Don't Let it Loose" campaign from NBISC encourages alternatives to giving live rabbits as Easter gifts, the New Brunswick SPCA emphasizes the importance of informed pet ownership through its "Your Next Pet" awareness campaign.
New Brunswick SPCA - “Rabbits can make great pets as they are smart, active, playful animals and require good knowledge of proper care and plenty of attention. However, think twice before getting, or giving, a real live bunny as an Easter gift. Every year Easter bunnies are taken to animal shelters or abandoned after families find out they are not always the best match for kids or their other pets. Rabbits abandoned to fend for themselves in the wild can die from starvation, the elements, or predators,” said Tony Porter, Chief Animal Protection Officer, New Brunswick SPCA.
More information on SPCA’s “Your Next Pet” awareness campaign is available here: https://nbspca.ca/your-next-pet
Contact Information:
Jennifer Yamazaki
Project Lead
New Brunswick Invasive Species Council
Jennifer.yamazaki@nbinvasives.ca
For interviews, please contact:
Kristin Elton
Program Director
New Brunswick Invasive Species Council
705-606-1974
director@nbinvasives.ca
