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Hopping happenings in Banff town

It’s been a week when things were hopping, literally and figuratively, in Banff. Of particular note is the fact that feral rabbits have been seen hopping around, sparking concerns that a Canmore, Kelowna or Victoria-like “bunny issue” is at hand.

It’s been a week when things were hopping, literally and figuratively, in Banff.

Of particular note is the fact that feral rabbits have been seen hopping around, sparking concerns that a Canmore, Kelowna or Victoria-like “bunny issue” is at hand.

The thing is, bunnies being bunnies, a few rabbits becomes a bunch, which quickly becomes a wide-ranging problem, as in Canmore. Whether feral rabbits were loosed on the town purposely, or simply escaped, the key thing is to remove them quickly.

At the time, releasing a rabbit into a wild area may not seem like a big deal, but as has been seen in Canmore, it can become one – or ask an Australian about their rabbit situation. Or ask a Texan about their feral hog situation, or a Great Lakes angler about the introduction of lampreys. Recently, in Burnaby, B.C. the hunt was on for a dangerous snakehead fish which had been spotted. It’s suspected the snakehead was released by an owner who couldn’t deal with it.

Some years ago, provincial fisheries biologists were to be seen in Policeman’s Creek in Canmore, electrofishing in an effort to capture a goldfish which was spotted in the creek – again, obviously released by somebody. Thing is, while tiny, bright orange and seemingly harmless (in an aquarium) goldfish are of the carp family and local waters don’t need carp swimming around cleaning up trout eggs.

Because of examples like this Parks Canada, a body which is used to dealing with non-native species in its midst, is acting quickly. Kudos and good luck to them with their trapping efforts.

What the town doesn’t need is for more and more bunnies to appear, then have residents become enamoured with them, as in Canmore, resulting then in a great outpouring of grief when they’re finally dealt with at significant cost.

For years, for example, Parks has been removing brook trout that were stocked in bodies of water throughout the national parks in favour of native species like cutthroat and bull trout. It’s all in keeping with keeping Banff natural.

Much better to deal with a feral rabbit issue now, than a major public relations nightmare later.

Chain, chain, chain…

While we at the RMO are a little disappointed that a council vote to support a public hearing process in relation to chain stores was very close (4-3), it had to happen.

Whether or not Banff residents and business people are for or against further chain store development, the issue needs to be addressed in a public forum.

Banff is a town which has embraced the input of its citizens on a wide range of issues and chain stores should be no different. It’s been an issue for more than a decade and, rather than have it arise every time a new chain arrives, a definitive stance needs to be taken as a fallback position.

While no matter what decision is made won’t be embraced by everyone in Banff, everybody needs to be on the same page when it comes to the issue.


Rocky Mountain Outlook

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