Can I release my pet rabbit into the wild?
Never release a pet rabbit outside. Releasing a domestic animal into the wild is a crime. For hundreds of years these rabbits have been dependent upon humans to feed and house them. They lack the ability to survive in the wild.
Can domesticated rabbits survive outside?
Unfortunately, pet rabbits are often confined to a small outdoor area, where they can’t escape danger. It is possible to keep rabbits safe outdoors, but it requires a lot of work. The safest place for a rabbit to live is inside the home. Provided you rabbit-proof all areas accessible to your bunny, there’s no risk.
What do you do with unwanted rabbits?
Volunteer, foster, and adopt at your local shelter or rabbit rescue. The more people directly engaged in hands-on rescue work, the more rescue programs can be expanded and the more bunnies saved. If you cannot volunteer please consider making a donation of money or supplies to a rescue or shelter.
Is it bad to leave a rabbit outside in the wild?
Never release a pet rabbit outside. Releasing a domestic animal into the wild is a crime. Unfortunately, every year, thousands of rabbit guardians decide to abandon their pets in the great outdoors. They may believe the rabbit can survive and thrive in the wild but this is an inaccurate and deadly assumption.
Can You tame a wild rabbit as a pet?
In most places, you cannot legally “tame” a wild rabbit as a pet. Never remove baby bunnies from their nest in the wild! This can actually cause them severe health problems and even death. Less than 10% of wild baby bunnies survive when taken from their nests.
What should I do if I see a rabbit in my yard?
Since wild rabbits tend to like wooded or shrubby areas on the edges of a particular area, consider creating a small brush pile near the edge of your yard or garden for the wild rabbits.
What’s the best way to feed a wild rabbit?
Keep in mind that pellets tend to be very nutrient dense—you do not need to feed them in large quantities. Look for pellets at your local pet store. If you can approximate the sizes of the wild rabbits, you could ask the staff at the pet store about an adequate amount of pellets to feed the rabbits.
Can you raise wild rabbits?
Surprisingly, raising wild rabbits is about the same as raising domestic ones. Keep them in the house until they are about 4 weeks old so they will be warm enough. Put them in a 2 sq ft cardboard box that has very high sides. Put some hay in it that they can either hide under or lay on top of.
Can wild rabbits be domesticated?
Wild rabbits were domesticated at one point. That’s why we have pet rabbits. However, domestication takes a lot more than just raising an animal in captivity. It’s a process many years and many generations long. Domestic animals have been bred for docility, obedience, and most importantly, a lack of fear towards humans.
Can You domesticate a wild baby rabbit?
Don’t feed them lettuce or cabbage. Baby wild rabbits are like domestic rabbits – they will not bite you and are safe to raise. They are really jumpy, though, and will try to escape whenever they get a chance. Not many people have been successful in domesticating wild rabbits.
