Activists File Suit to Protect Cottontail Rabbits from Deadly Poison

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Easter Bunny may be better off skipping Orange County this year if he knows what's good for him. Information supplied by In Defense of Animals (IDA) and the Animal Protection Institute (API) suggests that the California Department of Fish and Game is illegally killing cottontail rabbits with the deadly poison Diphacinone. A suit filed today in Superior Court seeks enforcement of provisions of the California Code of Regulations that prohibit killing cottontails by 1) aid of bait, or 2) use of poison by Writ of Mandate.

Under California law, cottontails may be taken by means other than poison due depredation of crops or forage. Even under the broadest of definitions, it is doubtful that maintaining golf courses, landscaping or ornamental shrubbery -- the reasons given for the rabbit kill in residential areas of Orange County -- could be considered either.

In addition to violating California law, the use of Diphacinone -- a rodent bait poison being used to kill the cottontails -- also poses serious potential health risks. Diphacinone reduces blood clotting and eventually causes death due to internal bleeding. It is toxic to humans, domestic animals, fish, birds, and other wildlife. In their suit, activists claim that poisoned cottontails have been carelessly and negligently left to be discovered by children or companion animals.

"Every other county in California considers Diphacinnone too dangerous to use," asserts Nicole Paquette, Government Affairs Coordinator for the Animal Protection Institute. "It's time that Orange County moved into this century and adopted less dangerous, non-lethal methods of control."

"Killing cottontails while putting ourselves at risk for the sake of landscaping and ornamental shrubs is a lose-lose situation for everyone," says Bill Dyer, the Southern California representative of In Defense of Animals. "Clearly, the risks involved far outweigh any possible benefits. We urge Orange County to adopt a more humane and sensible way to address the problem."