THE ’BIRD THE VIDETTE PRESENTS
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016 Vol. 128 / No. 51
videtteonline
SPRING INTO CLEANING OUT YOUR CLOSET NEWS 6
No bunny business Quad bunnies are not Easter bunnies—don’t touch them REBECCA DAVIS Features Reporter
HOP AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE BUNNIES THIS EASTER FEATURES 7
CATCHING UP WITH FORMER REDBIRD HOOPS PLAYER SPORTS 8
With temperatures warming up at Illinois State University, it’s safe to say that students will be spending a lot more time outside between classes. However, there are often more squirrels and rabbits hopping around the Quad than students this time of year. It might be tempting to try and pet, pick up or interact with the rabbits you see on campus, especially because they don’t sprint away like squirrels do. When it comes to interacting with the animals you see on the Quad, though, it’s better to remember some key things about rabbit safety. While rabbits are cute, it’s crucial to only look and not touch. Picking up small and delicate bunnies may cause them to go into a state of shock or cause them to kick their legs too hard in order to escape. The scent and germs on your hands can also harm them. “Touching the rabbits will leave the scent of humans which may cause others to reject them,” Lacey Jo, a worker at Wild Times Exotics in Springfield, said. “Also, if they get used to humans and they lose the fear, it could be bad for them because not everyone is going to be friendly.” As good as your intentions may be with the bunnies on the Quad, picking them up is potentially harmful. If they begin to get used to human contact, it will increase their risk of injury. So, how about taking pictures? It’s always fun to capture a cute animal on your phone, and shouldn’t be harmful to the rabbit as long as you are keeping a healthy distance. “I don’t think it’s wrong to try and take pictures if you’re doing it from a safe distance, but if you’re chasing a rabbit, you’re stressing it out,” Jo said. February is typically breeding season for bunnies, meaning there is likely to be a lot of baby rabbits hopping around campus soon. But sometimes, the younger rabbits wander away from their nest before they are old enough to survive on their own. In this instance, it is actually okay to interact with the creature. see BUNNIES page 2
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