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08/30/2010: "The SJI SOB’s Announce Bunny Kills Halted"

( graphic by Save Our Bunnies ) Representatives of the San Juan Island based SOB ( Save Our Bunnies

( graphic by Save Our Bunnies )

Representatives of the San Juan Island based SOB (Save Our Bunnies) organization have -in the name of the San Juan County National Park rabbits- been successful in their battle to stop the killing of park rabbits.

They have announced no more rabbits will be killed by the local park rangers, and are holding a public meeting Tuesday (8-31-10 at 5 p.m. at Mullis Center in FH) to form a new board to serve as a Park Stewardship Oversight Board.

In spite of the best coordinated efforts of the SJC Park Rangers, the SOB was successful in making contact last week with Congressman Jim Moran, a member and incoming chair of the House Appropriations Committee, when they made a tour of the parks on San Juan Island. Related story

The Congressman engaged the citizens on the rabbit issue, asked questions, and gave out contact information, inviting a continued conversation. SOB member Rebecca Parks Barnard followed up with phone calls to the Congressman, and by last Friday told Barnard to "Tell the people that I have discussed this extensively with the NPS leadership, that I know and am monitoring the situation, and that I don't anticipate the NPS will move forward with any plan to exterminate the rabbits.”

That would be any more rabbits. The SOB had filed a request FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request and obtained a copy of a permit that indicated in April of 2010 “Large Gas Cartridge” of sodium nitrate was used for “emergency control” of over 30 entrances to 5 rabbit warrens, and added “the park hope to undertake eradication in fall of 2010.”

The Tuesday meeting at the Mullis Center will feature a talk by local biologist and author Terry Domico about the active dunes system at American Camp, and an important part played by the rabbits in the park. The role of the to be created Oversight Board will be to continue communication between the park management and the people of San Juan Island. Barnard urges the public to “Come and join up as a charter member!”

Join the SOB Facebook discussion.