FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2012
www.pqbnews.com
MISS BC
GENERAL DISARRAY
There are two local contestants in this year’s Miss BC competition
Junior B hockey team looking for a new coach
A17
A39
Warren woes Residents want city to consider a rabbit cull AUREN RUVINSKY wrtier@pqbnews.com
After establishing an admittedly largely symbolic bylaw against feeding deer in March, Parksville city council is now wondering what to do with an abundance of rabbits. The discussion was sparked by a petition received from Jack and Doreen Moore with 51 names asking that “laws be implemented to deal with this problem and the city cull them.” The petition is specifically about the large population in the area of Foxtail and Ironwood avenues and Strawberry Crescent in the southwest corner of the city off Hirst Avenue, but council agreed they are common in many areas. The petition points out the bylaw officer is unable THE TARGET to do anything. Mayor Chris Burger said the issue is complicated by the fact that most of the problem is on private property, plus there could be a protected species of rabbit in the area. He said he does hear complaints, the biggest concern being digging up yards and trails and fears of a real population explosion. There have been aggressive measures to deal with feral rabbit populations in some B.C. cities, most notably a mass removal from the University of Victoria and a cull in Kelowna. Councillor Marc Lefebvre proposed a motion to do something about the large population, which was broadened into asking staff to report back on various options.
STEVEN HEYWOOD PHOTO
GET READY TO SCOOT: Constable Jesse Foreman offers some instruction prior to the beginning of the Parksville Scooter Rodeo Wednesday.
Bear sightings prompt warning Fifteen reports of bears in Qualicum Beach force town to issue public plea QUALICUM BEACH — A series of bear sightings and other activity in the Laburnum-Jones roads area and around the Qualicum Beach airport, have prompted the town to ask residents to be bear aware. There have been 15 reports of bear activity in the town since April 1, many of which involve bears getting into household garbage and going
Smoky says: clean up your act.
after bird feeders. The town is asking people to control or remove these easy sources of food. “Our goal is to reduce the occurrence of human-wildlife conflict in Qualicum Beach in order to increase public safety,” said Mark Brown. “To help achieve this we are doing our part and asking that residents See BEAR HAZARD, page A8
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