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Feral Rabbits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

 

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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.

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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.

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Rabbit Road Kill. Pet rabbits have never had to dodge cars or navigate streets. They easily become "road kill" for unsuspecting motorists.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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:

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Take the bunny to a humane society

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Contact a rabbit rescue group - www.rabbit.org chapters on the web

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There are many "no kill" shelters in medium to larger cities.

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If your humane society can't take your rabbit, they may know a rabbit rescue group.

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Find the rabbit a new home with an animal lover you know

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Put an ad in the newspaper for your rabbit.

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Do not advertise a free pet so rabbits don't end up as snake food.

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Get the rabbit neutered or spayed, a big cage, lots of attention and a second chance.

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Do not give the rabbit to a school as a classroom pet. 

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Teachers write me saying rabbits are dumped outside their schools.

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The rabbits at schools end up in shelters because teachers can't care for them.

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  © Connie Andrews 1998 - 2008 All Rights Reserved.