Posted on 01/28/2013 9:20:37 AM PST by Uncle Chip
Rabbits at Denver International Airport are chewing through the wires of cars in the parking lot causing tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage.
The airport is home to hundreds of bunnies, who are not living up to their cute reputation as they chew through brake lines, clutch lines and other wiring.
Local car repair shops in the Denver area estimate that the rabbits are doing massive damage and car owners affected have pleaded with the airport to do something about the growing menace.
'When I had the trouble with the oil light coming on, the dealer told me the wires that controlled the air conditioning were chewed,' said Ken Blum, one car owner who was affected.
Blum has had to have repairs done on his car twice due to rabbit damage and he estimates the cost at approximately $700.
'I saw no signs…nothing to tell me, ‘Hey, beware’,' Blum told CBS4. 'My insurance didn’t cover it, the manufacturer didn’t cover it.'
The rampaging rabbits at Denver are not a new problem: In 1999 they were biting their way through the wires of de-icing equipment - and now it seems they have moved their warren to the outlying parking lots.
When contacted, airport officials said that only a small percentage of the people who park out there ever complain of rabbit caused car problems. They also told CBS4 that United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services agents patrol the parking lots and remove rabbits when they see them.
Lot owners tell CBS4 that they’re trying to deter the rabbits with extra fencing and coyote urine.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Since they evidently can’t be shot or trapped, someone needs to seed the area with orange birth control pills that look like little carrots.
Gee, if rabbit pelts were actually WORTH something this wouldn’t be an issue...
Thanks a bundle PETA you jack-rabbit-arses...
Don’t they have any hungry hawks or eagles out there.
I don't think they would like birds of prey treating an airport as a hunting ground. You would have more problems than a few shredded car wires.
LOL
Well then how about a Wiley Coyote.
Solved the problem by keeping my hood up when I go to sleep. They won't bother the engine then. They don't like to be seen.
'Course I'm not the first to do this. On wildlife refuges across the Great Basin, you'll find many refuge vehicles with their hoods up at night. Looks odd but now you know why.
Can't see this solution working at an airport parking lot, though...
Ask Australia how those methods work out.
Import some dingoes and be done with it.
The rabbits are smarter than government officials.
Car manufacturers are using soy based insulation on wiring.
It is supposed to be more environmentally friendly.
To a rabbit, soy = rabbit food.
Just look at it this way -
The rabbits are recycling the insulation from the wiring.
They are just doing it before the humans have discarded it.
Interesting, I am flying out of Denver’s airport in mid-February. I will need to stick with the parking garage since it is a two day trip. Fly out Friday afternoon and return Sat night.
Bunnnies aren’t as cute as everybody supposes
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