Attention: Miami Freepers

Miami Herald | April 26,2003 | stanz

[stanz]

Has anyone in the Miami area heard about the incident at Miami Airport whereby the USDA is planning to shoot and kill hundreds of jackrabbits on Monday?
If so, I would appreciate any news you may have. The situation has been in constant flux, but as of right now, things are as follows:

The animals which number in the hundreds, have been living on the grounds of the airport for over twenty years. During this time, there has never been one case of a risk to humans or a flight security problem.
The airport is concerned about a future problem resulting in migrating turkey vultures which may feed on carcasses of dead rabbits. Bird experts have vouched that rabbits are an incidental meal for the birds which feed chiefly on other items. In any event, the birds have migrated out of the area and will not return until October.
The airport has contracted with the USDA to start shooting the rabbits on Monday at a cost of $18,000 to the taxpayers.
There are trappers now on the grounds who have already captured, provided medical care to and have transported the rabbits to a sanctuary in Texas FOR FREE. All they are asking is an extension in which to complete their work. So far, Angela Gittens, Director of the airport, has refused.
As we speak, the trappers and vets are on the grounds with traps and tranquilizer darts and will be there all weekend.
There has been a lot of pressure from across the country put on the USDA, the airport and Florida local and state officials to intervene and grant the extension. There will probably be a demonstration staged there on Monday with press coverage.

[stanz]

(Admin Mod. please move to chat)

If anyone hears any news on this, I would appreciate hearing about it.

[firewalk]

bttt

[NautiNurse]

These are the critters:

[KDD]

Saint Petersburg Times Publishing Mar 30, 2003

An animal trapper has stepped forward with an offer that could save 500 black-tailed jackrabbits slated to be exterminated because they are breeding unabated near runways at Miami International Airport.

Steven Rosen of Plantation has offered to pay for the cost of flying the rabbits to an animal rights ranch in Texas.

Airport officials have agreed to meet with Rosen on Thursday to discuss his plan.

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered the airport to rid its grounds of the wild hares because when they get run over by aircraft, their carcasses attract turkey vultures that hover above the runways jeopardizing planes landing and taking off.

The FAA reports that between 1990 and 2001 in the United States, 101 people were injured and six killed when birds smashed into windshields or got sucked into engines on landing or takeoff.

Airport director Angela Gittens has signed off on a proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to have Wildlife Service agents kill the rabbits with shotguns and pellet rifles, but she won't submit it to the agency before meeting with Rosen, airport spokesman Marc Henderson said.

After the initial sweep, which would have to be carried out within a year, USDA officials would have to keep coming back to make sure no rabbits remained on airport grounds. The USDA plan could cost the airport $19,549.

Rosen estimates that it would cost him $7,500 to trap the rabbits and fly them to Black Beauty Ranch in Texas.

[stanz]

I have photos of some of the rabbits after capture and a few of those healthy enough to be released at the sanctuary. Not good at posting pix. Will try later.
Thanks

[stanz]

Rosen estimates that it would cost him $7,500 to trap the rabbits and fly them to Black Beauty Ranch in Texas.

Rosen has been doing the trapping at his own expense and so have the vets on-site. As of yesterday, 30 anmals were trapped, 17 transported and the others in vet care.

[NautiNurse]

The problem is that the new 8600 ft runway is reducing their grassy habitat. Planes do run over the rabbits. Another concern is that vultures who feed on the dead rabbit carcasses will get sucked into a jet engine. Would be a shame to wait until an airline disaster to resolve the problem.

[stanz]

As I stated, the turkey vultures have already migrated out of the area. The rabbits have not posed any danger. That is why the airport has agreed to let the trappers on-site in the first place.

[NautiNurse]

In 2002, there were twelve incidents of the turkey vultures crashing into planes. By the end of February this year, there were already twelve incidents.

[PaxMacian]

That's some expensive stew.

[stanz]

They didn't crash there in search of rabbits. Rabbits are "incidental" food for them.

[NautiNurse]

That's some expensive stew

It's estimated there are about 500 of those critters on the airport property, and they multiply like---rabbits. They aren't native to Florida either.

[PaxMacian]

$36/rabbit isn't too bad I guess. But, some buddies of mine with a pickup truck and some shotguns could do it cheaper.

[NautiNurse]

;o)

[stanz]

Thanks for this. I sent it to the people in charge of staging a demonstration. Maybe they can use it for signs.

[stanz]

The trappers are working for free- - -saving lives.

[stanz]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-428rabbits.story

Animal advocates get month to rid runway of rabbits at Miami airport

By Jean Paul Renaud
sun-sentinel.com & Associated Press

April 28, 2003, 3:12 PM EDT

MIAMI -- After one week of chasing after jackrabbits, Dr. Steve Rosen and his fellow animal advocates have not only succeeded in saving about 75 hares from the FAA order that Miami International Airport get rid of the "rabbit problem" on its runways, but also managed to convince Airport Director Angela Gittens to push back the day of execution a month.

The protectors of the black-tailed jackrabbits have gotten help from County Manager Steve Shiver, sympathy from County Mayor Alex Penelas and attention from animal-rights activists around the country, including actress Mary Tyler Moore.

Rosen, who has paid for all the costs of saving the rabbits from the literal federal ax, is rushing to ship all the rabbits, which could number as high as 500, off the a safe haven in Texas, where they originally came from more than 20 years ago.

He admitted Monday he was relieved he was been given two more weeks.

The growing rabbit population has been deemed a potential hazard to humans at the airport since several have been run over by planes landing, taxing or taking off. The carcasses in turn attract turkey vultures, which hover over the airport sometimes fly into planes causing damage and sometimes death.

According to FAA reports, 101 people were injured in the United States and six killed from 1990 through 2001 when birds smashed into windshields or got sucked into engines on landing or takeoff.

Teams of trappers and veterinarians worked through the weekend and corralled 73 rabbits, 14 of whom died from stress or injuries from tranquilizer guns. The rabbits that survive the trapping process will be transported to Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, Texas, about 71 miles southeast of Dallas.

Animal-rights activists protested Monday morning and ask airport officials for an extension so trappers can complete their job.
Copyright © 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

They also got help from my daughter's friend who happens to be Mary Tyler Moore's fitness trainer. We approached him to ask Mary for help and she came through.
We are so thankful to him, to Mary and her husband, Dr. Robert Levine, and to all those who worked so hard to get this reprieve.
stanz

[jellybean]

Hope it works out for the benefit of all.

[stanz]

I have a soft spot for rabbits. I got involved in this about two months ago when I read about what was planned. Now that we finally got an extension, I can relax until the 30 days pass. The trappers ought to be able to capture all the rabbits by then.
Now I can back to FR.
Thanks for your wishes.