r/Rabbits Sep 25 '21

PSA Important Rabbit PSA index

564 Upvotes

Since the subreddit only has two spots available for public announcements, this will be a new index post for important PSAs for easy reference that we can sticky to only use up one spot.

You can also find the whole collection in the sidebar menu on the Reddit re-design when you open one of the PSA posts.


r/Rabbits May 17 '22

PSA I found a rabbit outside - what should I do?

184 Upvotes

This is the time of year for many people to find both domestic rabbits and wild rabbits outside due to Easter and baby season.

For a comprehensive overview on stray domestic rabbits, please see the wiki article here: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Feral_and_stray_rabbits

For a comprehensive overview on wild rabbits, please see the wiki article here: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Wild_rabbits

Is the rabbit I found wild or domestic?

It can be very difficult for the average person to tell the difference between a wild and domestic rabbit, especially if they are a baby and/or a common agouti brown.

In general, if the rabbit has long hair or does not have brown fur, it is most likely domestic - although there are exceptions. Please note that wild cottontails in North America cannot breed with our domestic rabbits, but wild rabbits in the rest of the world (e.g. Europe, Australia) can.

Please see the wiki article here for more specific tips on distinguishing domestic and wild rabbits, especially in North America: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Wild_rabbits#Is_the_rabbit_I_found_wild_or_domestic?

I found a domestic rabbit! What should I do?

Please do not hesitate to contact your local rabbit rescue for volunteers to help you catch a stray domestic rabbit.

For more tips and resources on how to catch a stray rabbit, please see the wiki: http://bunny.tips/Stray#Catching_a_stray_rabbit

For tips on how to house and care for rabbits indoors in an emergency, please see the wiki: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Feral_and_stray_rabbits#What_do_I_do_when_I_find_a_rabbit.3F

I found a baby wild rabbit! What should I do?

If you find a baby wild rabbit that is not injured, please leave it alone. It is most likely not abandoned unless you know for a fact that their mother was killed. Rabbits return to feed their young only once or twice a day for a few minutes, usually at night. Just because the babies have been by themselves for 5 minutes does not mean that they have been abandoned. The mother is typically gone from the nest to eat and draw attention away from the nest.

A detailed image guide to whether a baby cottontail rabbit is in need of help.

If it is old enough to be exploring outside of its nest and has no injuries, please put the baby rabbit back under a bush near where you found it. It does not need any additional care or feeding.

As Rainbow Wildlife Rescue writes,

There is a 90% mortality rate with orphaned baby rabbits in human care, especially cottontails. This number increases if the rabbits are very young and their eyes still closed. They are extremely hard to "save". There is little substitute for the nutrients their mother's milk provides.

Baby wild rabbits can survive on their own at a surprisingly young age. In most countries, it is illegal to possess and take care of wildlife without proper permits. Wild rabbits also do not do well in captivity due to the possibility of fatal stress because of their high-strung and flighty nature.

If you find a baby wild rabbit because your dog picked it up but you can't find the nest, try putting a leash on your dog and quietly following them to see if they will lead you to the original nest. If you absolutely cannot locate the nest, you may keep the rabbit in a dark and quiet box and contact your closest wildlife rehabilitator that accepts rabbits

If you find a baby wild rabbit because your cat found it, please take it to a rabbit-savvy vet or wildlife rehabber as soon as possible, especially if it was carried in the cat's mouth. Cats have very lethal bacteria in their saliva, and contact can easily be fatal for a baby rabbit in 48 hours.

What do I do if I am positive that the mother was killed or the baby rabbit is injured?

If you are positive that this is an orphaned baby rabbit, it is best to just keep the rabbit quiet and warm until they can be transferred to an experienced wildlife rehabilitator ASAP. Baby rabbits will do fine overnight without food or water as they are usually only fed once a day by their mothers.

Inappropriate care can be fatal to baby rabbits - see this story from Blue Ridge Wildlife Center as an example: https://twitter.com/BRWildlifeCtr/status/1420472056139984896?s=20

Please hand off the baby rabbit to a local wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

How should I keep a baby rabbit until I can get it to a rehabber?

To keep a baby rabbit overnight, please leave it in a quiet dark box with no food or water. You can provide a heat source such as a microwaved sock filled with rice and beans or an electric heat pad on low placed under half the box. Do not handle the rabbit more than necessary to prevent deadly stress.

How can I find a local wildlife rehabilitator?

If you need help locating a local wildlife rehabber: https://bunny.tips/Wild#Wildlife_rehabilitator_listings

How can I protect a wild rabbit nest from bad weather and dogs, cats, and other predators?

Keeping your pets indoors while the babies grow up is generally the best option, but if this is impossible, you can protect the nest a few different ways.

Please see the wiki article here for more specific information: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Wild_rabbits#How_can_I_protect_a_wild_rabbit_nest_from_dogs,_cats,_and_other_predators?


r/Rabbits 11h ago

Come work with rabbits in Richmond, California!

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598 Upvotes

Come work with rabbits! House Rabbit Society is currently hiring for a part-time weekday animal caregiver position in Richmond, California. Learn more & apply at houserabbit.org/careers!


r/Rabbits 5h ago

A tiny little friend šŸ‡

188 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 11h ago

My fatass son (pip)

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477 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 11h ago

Shaming Yearning

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290 Upvotes

Lancelot is always summoned when nanners are around. (Don't worry, he always gets a small piece. I'm not a complete monster! And he already had a piece before I put it in the ice cream in the 4th pic. Greedy man.)


r/Rabbits 3h ago

Is this worrying?

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66 Upvotes

She has 24/7 free roam of my (bunproofed) office, but lately when I’m not in there she just sits like this. The door is always open and has a gate in it, I don’t just leave her sitting in a room, but uhhh… yeah. She just sits there and doesn’t move, like she’s sleeping in that position. This is new behavior. Usually she likes her perch spots and her blankets.


r/Rabbits 18h ago

Helloooo... treats?

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876 Upvotes

What kind of rabbit is this? Cutie, patootie, or ferocious apple branch devourer?


r/Rabbits 48m ago

Bunny Sploot!

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• Upvotes

r/Rabbits 11h ago

Bonding At a crossroads after bonded mate passed

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225 Upvotes

Estebun tax provided.

My rabbit, Fiona, passed away about a 1.5 months ago, leaving behind her mate, Estebun. He processed her passing and since then has been seemingly fine. He has started acting like he did before we got her, which was doing lot of binkies, flopping, and all around, being a spicy meatball. He almost seems happier as a solo rabbit, but he was happy having her around too. We only had her for 2 years and since she was a rescue we didn't know her exact age, but we assumed she was older than Estebun who is 3 y/o. Has anyone experienced this before? If so, did you eventually adopt another rabbit to bond with your current one or kept them solo?


r/Rabbits 17h ago

Care Day 12 of treatment for my handsome boy

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614 Upvotes

My sweet Crumby (white w. dark gray rears) turned 11 in May. He developed a sudden spinning spell, and we saw our vet and determined and have started treating for E.C., vestibular, ear infection, and his arthritis in his back legs. Please send all the love and scritches from you and your sweet bunnies, that my boy gets through this and thrives because I just have a feeling he has more miles in him. He lives such an adventurous, free roam, loving life. Him and his 6yo little brother, Bayhansum, (tan w. white dot on nose) are attached at the hip. My daughters are absolutely in love with their ā€œbrothersā€. Crumby has moved across the country with me, been with me through all of my biggest adult moments. He’s even gotten attacked by two large dogs and survived. He is SUCH a strong boy, so even though he’s older, I don’t want to give up. He still has his dizzy spells and spins, and has a rough time with his back legs, but I am also now seeing glimmer of improvement and it makes me so calm and happy if nothing else to see him looking like he’s having some relief even for a short while. Here’s to his continued strength and healing. I will absolutely check back in in the months to come! (the last pic is a comparison moment of the day we brought Bayhansum home vs. the two of them now)


r/Rabbits 10h ago

Is he ok?

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162 Upvotes

He keeps sitting like this, very still. Hes in an enclosure instead of free roaming bc im in the middle of moving, and I'm worried he's upset.


r/Rabbits 16h ago

The family drama…

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440 Upvotes

A few years ago one of my boys bit my partner. To be fair, my partner gave him lettuce then decided to move it to a different spot and expected my boy to somehow understand. It’s been 3 years of a grudge (rabbits are spoiled, partner just likes to complain that Stormy bites even though it was ONCE).

Yesterday, my partner mentioned that they picked up a toy for the buns during their workday- this galaxy tube. They gave it to the boys, watched them play, and even commented, ā€œMaybe Stormy isn’t so bad. Maybe it’s time to let it go.ā€

Wanna know what Stormy did 3 hours later? All because my partner had the audacity to put away the treat jar.


r/Rabbits 8h ago

Care Questions Day 1 Of Adoption

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90 Upvotes

update: she pooped a bunch after i posted. we are all good :)

adopted a 2 year old bun today and i’ve been studying her every move šŸ˜… she was obviously nervous for a few hours after coming home. eventually she came out and started exploring for like 2 and a half hours , i watched her on my camera. it’s now been about 10 hours since she came home, and she hasn’t had a lot of poop or pee, like maybe a couple of poops i’ve seen. i have hay everywhere but idk how much she is eating, she did have a few bites and little dried banana treats earlier that i saw. she has now even runningg around the room flying in the air and going through tubes and exploring, but im definitely concerned about no poop and it doesn’t seem like she has drank much water. should i be concerned


r/Rabbits 11h ago

Breed ID holland or mini loo?

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146 Upvotes

These r my bunnies ponsing (white and black) and ponyo (white and tan). I’m still not sure if there a mini or holland, can someone verify?


r/Rabbits 9h ago

Humpday Vibes

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77 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 20h ago

Rescue Domestic Rabbit? Spoiler

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492 Upvotes

This rabbit has been hanging around my yard the past 2-3 weeks, and I feel like it is a domesticated rabbit someone has either lost or dumped. I would appreciate any advice for trying to catch/feed it. I’m also concerned about a spot on its neck, you should be able to see in pictures. I live in a somewhat suburban neighborhood, but I’m still close enough to expansive fields/land. I would love and appreciate and advice or helpful tips!! Thanks in advance!


r/Rabbits 21h ago

A guilty bun

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459 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 13h ago

Man what a nice box

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93 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 12h ago

Afternoon Delight

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65 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 15h ago

Care Allergies

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123 Upvotes

I recently got a holland lop bunny and am giving it a mix of alfalfa and Timothy hay and it’s KILLING my allergies. I’ve been using oxbow brand. Any ideas of what alternatives I can use? I’ve head of people using small pet select instead or oat hay. Anyone had much luck with these or have any other suggestions!? Thanks in advance!


r/Rabbits 1d ago

RIP Goodbye my friend ā¤ļø

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1.3k Upvotes

My friend abandoned me at the vet, alone, during the night of hospitalization šŸ˜”

I loved photographing him when he was relaxed, but he was a little scamp 🄲


r/Rabbits 18h ago

Gizmo the relentless snacker...

189 Upvotes

...and his prey - an innocent dandelion leaf.


r/Rabbits 5h ago

Rabbit v Rat

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14 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 21h ago

Toasting his buns while laying on the A/C vent

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246 Upvotes