r/Rabbits Sep 25 '21

PSA Important Rabbit PSA index

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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?

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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 3h ago

Biscoff gives so many kisses!!

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r/Rabbits 6h ago

Behavior Why do lick couch so much??

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r/Rabbits 13h ago

Breed ID Guess the breed?!

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Adopted him from a local shelter a month ago, and was told by the vet that he is 5 months old. As of four months old, he weighed 5.6lbs according to the vet records from the shelter. He jumps pretty high when he is excited!

He acts like a very affectionate dog. When he sees me he runs across the room to come to me to demand some petting. He sometimes follows me around like attached to my ankle. My arm hurts from petting him for a really long time. Hours pass by and I can’t get any work done.

The shelter said him and his siblings were found on the side of the road as baby bunnies. Pretty infuriating to hear…


r/Rabbits 9h ago

My son, Grimm

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Here’s my lop!
Soon to be 1yrs old :)


r/Rabbits 12h ago

I offered her a cucumber slice for the first time ever

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She said thanks, but no thanks, lol. Does anyone have a rabbit who likes cucumber? 🥒


r/Rabbits 10h ago

My old blind little lady

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I wanted to share my girl, her name is mooncake. she's about 10 years old and pretty much blind (hence the eyes) despite that she is happy and living her best life!

And before people ask, yes she has been to the vet. No there isn't much they can do, she is isn't in any pain at all and still is able to free roam and be a rabbit


r/Rabbits 10h ago

Health Rupert has The Snuffles

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He is on antibiotics and making a good recovery:) send him some love ❤️


r/Rabbits 5h ago

I present to you…

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The bunny charcuterie board.
Made out of a box insert for our new Drew Barrymore Crockpot.

Mrs. Bundy approved.


r/Rabbits 17h ago

Tobi has conquered his greatest adversary. The Broom.

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r/Rabbits 11h ago

Her fave spot to lie is under my chair

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r/Rabbits 16h ago

she flop in her box

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r/Rabbits 19h ago

RIP My rabbit passed away and I don’t know how to live without him Spoiler

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Here are some pics. His name is mylo. He was free roam and enjoyed running around the whole house however and whenever he liked, he usually went where we went, he didn’t have a companion rabbit, the house included me my brother my mother and father, who all love him and who he all loves. Any piece of exposed Skin; he’ll groom you, he likes chinning our fingers, he normally comes to family movie nights and watches with us, he likes going on top of things, like beds, sofas, and his cat tower, he likes to sit on the window sill, he always seems to run towards us when he sees us, he loves nose rubs, butt scratches, and I like to stick my face in his fur and smell him all over, he likes it too, I basically pet him with my face while smelling him. I can’t believe I’ll never see him again, he was only 5 and I’m so sorry I couldn’t help him live longer, 5 is too young. I hope I gave him at least a fraction of the endless happiness he gave me, I hope he knows he’s my best friend. It feels like we adopted him just yesterday, I keep feeling like I’ll see him around the house, but then I realize I never will again.

He was completely healthy but suddenly started having laboured breathing, so we took him to the vet where they found fluid in the liver cavity and a really abnormal heart rate and an abnormal heart itself. He passed away right there when they tried to get blood samples. I hope it wasn’t painful. He brought nothing but happiness to everyone, so he doesn’t deserve any pain at all. I should’ve noticed he was having trouble breathing faster and got him to the vet faster, it was hard to tell because didn’t act strangely, he ate, pooped, groomed us, and enjoyed our pets, only when I got close enough I could see his nose was flaring, I should’ve seen it sooner.


r/Rabbits 9h ago

Appreciate his loafitude

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r/Rabbits 9h ago

Good morning!

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Its 7 am where Im from btw :)


r/Rabbits 10h ago

Oh dear lord. Whiskers+mouf+toof??

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Mochi enjoyed his face massage.


r/Rabbits 7h ago

Care Is this a good rabbit set up? Would you change anything?

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r/Rabbits 16h ago

The molt is strong with this one ;-)

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It's so cute and such a mess. Just clumps coming out with every pet.


r/Rabbits 12h ago

You ok there bruv?!? My little princess is in a food induced coma. 😅🐰😴🥰

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r/Rabbits 6h ago

Care Tried to do the cute pic… little groomed hair hat lol

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r/Rabbits 19h ago

Care Long time lurker, first time bunny mama 💗

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post was removed last night, but I still need advice so reposting with different photo

Just picked up my first bun tonight, I have literally waited my entire life for this!! She's just over a year old and was left behind when her owner went into a retirement home.

I have most of her care set up, but would love some toy recommendations.

I also would love to know how you bathe your bunnies- if at all. Her underside and back legs are absolutely caked in urine and feces due to the lack of care for an extended time.

Taking all suggestions! First time bun mama and want to do right by this girl after such a rough start!


r/Rabbits 17h ago

Breed ID Rescued this 5-year-old bun a month ago, any idea what breed he might be?

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Could anyone help me identify his breed? He weighs 3.41 lbs (1.5 kg)! His coat is dark gray with some brown hairs and brown highlights.


r/Rabbits 9h ago

My bunny

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This is my bunny Hamilton. Hes a Flemish Giant. He is 5 years old.


r/Rabbits 12h ago

Dale begging for kibble!

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I love that I captured his little tongue in this. Instagram is @deviousdale :)