Homer council hears testimony on live-trapping feral rabbits

The Homer City Council will hear public testimony Monday, Oct. 12, at 6 pm at City Hall on an ordinance allowing property owners and lawful occupants to live-trap feral rabbits and rodents on their land.

City code has barred residents from trapping animals on their own property, even humanely, since a ban adopted 21 years ago. Sponsors Davis and Aderhold wrote in a council meeting packet) that the ban followed an incident in which a resident's cat was caught in a neighbor's snare.

Under the ordinance, captures must be live and noninjurious. Trappers must check traps at least every 12 hours and may not abandon or release the animals. Hares, cats, dogs, birds and furbearers are excluded.

The council introduced the ordinance 5-1 on Sept. 28, with Venuti opposed. Draft minutes show one property's rabbit population grew from two animals at the start of summer to 20. Other residents raised humane concerns, urging pet owner education and shelter funding instead. Homer Animal Services Director Jillian Rogers said the shelter generally cannot take in trapped feral rabbits. Anna Lewald wrote in urging passage.

That night, the council rejected an amendment requiring humane dispatch, 6-0. A substitute ordinance on Monday's agenda) instead requires humane disposition, such as adoption or shelter surrender, and bans drowning, freezing or starving animals.