Editor:
The concept of feral animals has been a hot topic in the Bow Valley recently, so I decided to do a little research.
What I discovered, and found fascinating, is that the word feral has several distinct and very different meanings.
Here are the two definitions of the word that I found the most relevant.
1. Reverted to the wild state, as from domestication: a pack of feral dogs (or bunnies!) roaming the woods.
2. Causing death; fatal, as from Latin feralis relating to corpses;
In understanding the second definition of this word, I find it just a little ironic that a “feral“ non-indigenous species (Caucasian homo sapiens) can invade another nation, break every legal treaty we signed, wipe out nearly the entire population of native people, drive countless species to the edge of extinction, clear cut the forests, blast though the mountains, poison the water, pollute the air, and then call the rabbits feral and blame them for the wild life problems that arises when we live in the middle of the wilderness?
I understand that there is a legitimate argument for feral population control and addressing the challenges that arise when we introduce a non-indigenous animal or plant into an ecosystem.
But when the genocide of an entire species of sentient mammals is the best solution that this town’s leadership can come up with to address the wildlife issues we face, then I seriously question their moral, ethical and intellectual development.
This unconscious and callous disregard for life is beyond appalling and crosses the line into the barbaric. This type of problem solving through violence and murder is one of the primary reasons that our Earth and our civilization are so utterly dysfunctional and teetering on the brink of collapse.
I understand that it is a considerably cheaper solution to just kill the little pests than to implement a real strategy, so why not save a few bucks, eh?
Unfortunately for you, I will no longer sit in silence and watch another innocent being, be it human or animal, be murdered because they inconvenience our way of life.
Mr. Mayor, town council and whoever is responsible for this decision, please understand this.
If even one hair, on one bunny’s head, is harmed by your actions, I will make it my personal mission to expose this town’s leadership for what it is; an ignorant gang of deluded, misinformed, rednecks that solve their problems through the murder and genocide of innocent, defenseless, living beings.
I am sure that once my marketing campaign goes viral the people will just flock to Canmore, if for nothing else, to protest.
Sure, the Canmore bunnies are a feral species that require an intelligent, conscious solution.
However, if you choose murder them, on mass, in cold blood, then you also become a feral animal and must be held accountable.
Leif Frankling,
Canmore
