Development Displaces Klahanie Rabbits

 

Klahanie Campground and RV Park, just outside of Squamish has been home to once-domestic rabbits and their offspring for decades.  Over the years the populations have increased and decreased, depending on factors such as weather and predation.  They've been burrowing under buildings, in the wooded areas, and coming out onto the grassy areas during sunny days.  Many a visitor has stopped by, bringing carrots and other treats to feed these little critters.  While they will take a carrot from your hand, they quickly dart off to enjoy eating their treat alone.  At times we counted up to a hundred or more, and sometimes saw young kits, barely a few weeks old peeking out at us  from underneath the cabins.

 

In recent years there never seem to be as many, and on our trip in February 2008 only about a dozen were spotted.  By and large it’s a short and tough life for all. What attracted our immediate attention, though, is that there is a development proposal for townhouses and apartments to be built on this site. The highway construction and expansion is ongoing, and the entire area is undergoing a drastic change in order to prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics.  Once beautiful scenery and tranquil homes to wildlife are being destroyed by this huge undertaking.  It looks like the rabbits will out of luck, as well.