Rabbit help needed

[bugmankeith]

Once in a while a field by a park has the odd one or two rabbits (look like cottontails). I saw one yesterday and snapped a quick photo of it but it's not the best photo. Right nearby is a community vegetable garden, and when I looked I saw this smaller rabbit eating the vegetables, but it was almost a cinnamon color! I'm wondering, is this a light colored cottontail (ive seen wild black ones before), or is this someones pet they let go. Bad idea as we have hawks,raccoons, and plenty of dogs that could kill it.

 

[Alexandra V]

It could very well be a pet. I wouldn't be surprised. Colours like that won't last in the wild, so I'd be surprised that it hasn't been bred out yet by natural selection in the wild cotton tails.

 

[bugmankeith]

I'm just not sure if it's a light colored wild or pet turned loose? We have a wooded area with things rabbits eat and cover to hide in, plus with that vegetable garden, but besides predators I dont see how a pet will last when it gets cold and snow or too hot or too much rain.

 

[pavel]

Cute little fuzzball. Yeah either way it is unlikely to survive long term.

Suppose you could always try catching it an rehoming it.

 

[compnerd7]

I've had really good luck with this:

http://dwaynesthisandthat.org/rabbittrap.htm

 

[fantasticp]

I think wild rabbits tend to have slightly longer ears (and more cupped) than pet rabbits. It looks like a pet to me.

...then again I am on the other coast so rabbits might look a little different.

 

[patrick86]

Definite pet. Won't last long in the wild with that color. Too bad.

After the "new" wears off of pets that take a little more work than people are prepared to provide a lot of them end up being released into the wild.

 

[BQC123]

I think wild rabbits tend to have slightly longer ears (and more cupped) than pet rabbits. It looks like a pet to me.

...then again I am on the other coast so rabbits might look a little different.

Agreed, shape seems to be off for a cottontail.

 

[Pssh]

Poor bunny. I would try to catch it and if you cannot keep it, re-home it/give it to the SPCA.

Bunnies can require a lot of space, so don't take keeping one lightly. Well, if you want to do what's best for them anyways.

 

[SandDeku]

Actually.. I know my share of rabbits. I'm a rabbit owner and I work daily with them. that'd be a netherland dwarf. Unless you live in the netherlands pretty sure that's a pet rabbit. Netherland dwarfs are the most common pet rabbits out there. Plus that color is way too light for a wild rabbit. It's color pattern doesn't fit in with the natural background. You know?

kinda just pops out.


P.s. just catch it and go to rabbithouse.com (i thin k thats the forum) and offer it for adoption to any of the members. pretty sure youll find it a good home like that. If you need care tips just ask!

P.s. avoid alfalfa hay, aspen bedding and any wood shaving type of bedding. use carefresh.

 

[Crysta]

Actually.. I know my share of rabbits. I'm a rabbit owner and I work daily with them. that'd be a netherland dwarf. Unless you live in the netherlands pretty sure that's a pet rabbit. Netherland dwarfs are the most common pet rabbits out there. Plus that color is way too light for a wild rabbit. It's color pattern doesn't fit in with the natural background. You know?

kinda just pops out.


P.s. just catch it and go to rabbithouse.com (i thin k thats the forum) and offer it for adoption to any of the members. pretty sure youll find it a good home like that. If you need care tips just ask!

P.s. avoid alfalfa hay, aspen bedding and any wood shaving type of bedding. use carefresh.

Alphalfa hay to the age of 5 months or so is appropriate, as rabbit do require the calcium for the rabbit to grow. The one in the picture is not done growing yet, so I would keep it on Alphalfa and then slowly introduce timothy or orchard grass, etc.

 

[compnerd7]

If you cam't catch it... rabbits are all dark meat :drool:

 

[Musicwolf]

Actually.. I know my share of rabbits. I'm a rabbit owner and I work daily with them. that'd be a netherland dwarf. Unless you live in the netherlands pretty sure that's a pet rabbit. Netherland dwarfs are the most common pet rabbits out there. Plus that color is way too light for a wild rabbit. It's color pattern doesn't fit in with the natural background. You know?

kinda just pops out.


P.s. just catch it and go to rabbithouse.com (i thin k thats the forum) and offer it for adoption to any of the members. pretty sure youll find it a good home like that. If you need care tips just ask!

P.s. avoid alfalfa hay, aspen bedding and any wood shaving type of bedding. use carefresh.

Agreed, the little one is 100% Netherland Dwarf and was someone's pet.

 

[SandDeku]

Alphalfa hay to the age of 5 months or so is appropriate, as rabbit do require the calcium for the rabbit to grow. The one in the picture is not done growing yet, so I would keep it on Alphalfa and then slowly introduce timothy or orchard grass, etc.

alfalfa isn't my top pick even for babies because well its also too high in fat. I rather give them calcium in other ways...

 

[Crysta]

alfalfa isn't my top pick even for babies because well its also too high in fat. I rather give them calcium in other ways...

Fat doesn't hurt them as much as you think....
Plus with a growing rabbit only eating it the first 4-5months of their life...as i've said it's good for them.
Alfalfa hay is higher in calcium and protein and lower fiber, sure fiber is a necessity, but that can be replaced in other ways(flaxseed, fruits,greens) - as a rabbit grows you are looking for the calcium and protein it provides (which isn't fat right now, because the rabbits growth spends it) to encourage proper bone growth etc.

Then, when you switch to timothy, because the rabbit does not need the extra protein, and calcium because it's growth spurt it over. If you keep feeding it after the recommended timeline - yes the rabbit will gain weight(protein not used= fat), and pee more due to the calcium it doesn't need, but that's what the time line is for.


Anyways OP, once you capture the lil bunny (if you do) I recommended alfalfa...it still has the baby look on it.

 

[SandDeku]

Fat doesn't hurt them as much as you think....
Plus with a growing rabbit only eating it the first 4-5months of their life...as i've said it's good for them.
Alfalfa hay is higher in calcium and protein and lower fiber, sure fiber is a necessity, but that can be replaced in other ways(flaxseed, fruits,greens) - as a rabbit grows you are looking for the calcium and protein it provides (which isn't fat right now, because the rabbits growth spends it) to encourage proper bone growth etc.

Then, when you switch to timothy, because the rabbit does not need the extra protein, and calcium because it's growth spurt it over. If you keep feeding it after the recommended timeline - yes the rabbit will gain weight(protein not used= fat), and pee more due to the calcium it doesn't need, but that's what the time line is for.


Anyways OP, once you capture the lil bunny (if you do) I recommended alfalfa...it still has the baby look on it.

Hmmm I guess you have some points there. I guess I'm just very paranoid about it tis all.

 

[Ferfer]

I hat eto go offf on my own story, but I promise it does relate. One year a few days after Easter I found a cute white bunny with black splotches around my barn. So you can see how I would def. have to go with this one must be a bunny that escaped or someone just got tired of the little guy. Sadly, I doubt these bunnies ever last long.

 

[OphidianDelight]

If it wasn't abandoned it would only be a matter of time before it was stuck in a tiny superpets cage with freddy krueger/corkscrew nails. Hopefully you will be able to deliver it to a better future than that or being eaten in the wild.

 

[SandDeku]

If it wasn't abandoned it would only be a matter of time before it was stuck in a tiny superpets cage with freddy krueger/corkscrew nails. Hopefully you will be able to deliver it to a better future than that or being eaten in the wild.

Yeah cause that color pattern is basically going to make it a "sitting rabbit" (aka sitting duck-- lol). Plus they won't know what is a threat so much as a wild bun bun would.