|
|
Feral Rabbits
These colonies are made up of abandoned
domesticated European rabbits - pets!
 They are rabbits that pet owners have
abandoned to fend for themselves in the outdoors or on the streets. The problem
exists from time to time in many areas of the United States.
I have heard of rabbit colonies with up
to 500 rabbits and yes, some of the rabbits are thriving, but others are dying and diseased.
They become a public nuisance and then efforts are made to "eradicate the
problem" if rescuers are not called to help.
Why
pet rabbits should never be abandoned outside:
 |
They
are Pets! These pet rabbits have had regular feedings and water given
to them. They don't know how to survive. Domesticated rabbits don't
know which plants are poisonous. Most will starve to death. Pet
rabbits are not wild animals. |
|
|
 Rabbits
are prey. Think about it - a poor 6 lb. domesticated and very
defenseless bunny left loose
outside where owls, hawks, eagles, dogs, raccoons, cats, coyotes, and other animals can find
them. These rabbits do not know the territory and do not have a warren to
escape to in case they are chased. Abandoned bunnies will not stray far
from where they were left to fend for themselves.
|
|
|
Rabbit
Road Kill. Pet rabbits have never had to dodge cars or navigate streets. They
easily become "road
kill"
for unsuspecting motorists.
|
|
|
Disease.
Bunnies pick-up fleas, mites, cuterebra, fly strike and other parasites they
aren't
exposed to as a pet. (See Hops & Dill) Plus, wild rabbits are carriers of diseases that can kill
domesticated European rabbits. In one colony in Washington State over 63%
of the rabbits tested positive for coccidia and without
treatment it would kill the rabbits.
|
|
|
Colonies
of rabbits are not good places to dump a pet rabbit since it will have to
fight for territory and could be maimed or killed. If you abandon an
unspayed female, she will have a litter every 31 days adding to the problem. When it is spring or summer and food is more plentiful, the
rabbits will seem better off, but once fall and winter arrive, the rabbits will
fight over food and then most likely starve. |
|
|
It is Not Natural
- Oryctolagus cuniculus, the domesticated rabbit, is not
indigenous to the Americas. It is only a cousin to
Sylvilagus floridanus, the Eastern Cottontail. While all 60
breeds of domestic rabbits can interbreed, they cannot breed
with cottontails. Embryos will not survive. A domesticated
rabbit has one more chromosome than a cottontail. Cottontail
rabbits will also fight feral domesticated rabbits with
sometimes fatal results. A city park full of cottontail rabbits
is not an idyllic haven for a domesticated rabbit.
|
|
|
It's
Against the Law in most states to abandon pets outside. Most states
have animal cruelty laws that make it at least a misdemeanor offense to try to
rid yourself of a pet rabbit you don't want any longer. When I lived in Minnesota it became a felony to abandon pets or to kill
them. |
If you find
you can't keep your rabbit:
|
|
Take
the bunny to a humane society
|
|
|
Contact a rabbit rescue group -
www.rabbit.org
chapters on the web |
|
|
There
are many "no kill" shelters in medium to larger
cities. |
|
|
If your
humane society can't take your rabbit, they may know
a rabbit rescue group. |
|
|
Find
the rabbit a new home with an animal lover you know
|
|
|
Put
an ad in the newspaper for your rabbit.
|
|
|
Do not
advertise a free pet so rabbits don't end up as
snake food.
|
|
|
Get
the rabbit neutered or spayed, a big cage, lots of
attention and a second chance.
|
|
|
Do
not give the rabbit to a school as a classroom pet.
|
|
|
Teachers
write me saying rabbits are dumped outside their
schools. |
|
|
The
rabbits at schools end up in shelters because
teachers can't care for them.
|
|
