It may be tempting to keep wild rabbits as pets due to how cute they are and how friendly they seem from a distance. Here are the different reasons why you should never try to raise wild rabbits as pets:. Wild rabbits, being prey animals, have the instinct to not trust anyone in order to survive. It could be dangerous to try to catch one or try to domesticate it. Rabbits have sharp claws that could easily injure if they deemed it necessary in order to break free.
Wild rabbits also bite as a last-ditch effort to escape. Wild rabbits could also be carrying diseases that can be passed on to humans. Here are some diseases that wild rabbits could be carrying that can be passed to humans:. Most states require you to get special permits to keep wild rabbits as pets.
The reason for this is due to the fact that wild rabbits often carry diseases that can be passed on to humans. Also, some states are banned from keeping wild rabbits as pets because some species of rabbits are endangered.
To tame a wild rabbit, get down on the ground whenever you approach it so you seem smaller and less threatening. Then, try leaving a trail of treats leading to you to encourage the rabbit to come closer. Never chase a wild rabbit or try to pick it up since it can cause the rabbit to have a heart attack or go into shock. If the rabbit does approach you, talk to it in a calm, gentle voice, and avoid making any loud or sudden movements.
For more advice from our Veterinary co-author, like how to catch a rabbit using a humane trap, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers.
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Rabbits are naturally prey animals, so they experience more stress more than other animals. This means that your wild rabbit will likely run from you if you try to approach it. Its first survival defense is to run away to a place of safety. Do not attempt to stop the rabbit from running away. This will only make it more stressed. This can lead to its death, since rabbits can suffer a heart attack or go into shock, which causes its gut to go into stasis, which will cause its starvation.
Frances Harcourt Brown. Publisher: Butterworth-Heinneman. Lie down with it. In order for the rabbit to get used to you and not see you as hostile, you should decrease your height when approaching it. This will make it seem less threatening to it. Any responsible rabbit owner will know that they should spay or neuter their bunny.
Check out this post about basic care tips and whether rabbits make good pets to find out what else you should do for your pet rabbit. This will cause your pet a lot of stress. It may be possible, but it is unlikely that a pet rabbit and a wild rabbit would form a bond. This is unlikely to occur because the animals would have to spend enough time together. Wild rabbits could be carrying diseases and infections that your pet might not be immune to, and that could be fatal, so its best to keep them apart.
Rabbits that are forming a bond will need to get used to each other and undergo a lengthy communication process. However, there are differences between domesticated and wild rabbits, which could lead to misunderstandings and fights. When two rabbits are bonded, they would have established a hierarchy and want to live together. Few pet and wild rabbits have been able to overcome all these obstacles and bond.
Wild rabbits may look similar to some domesticated rabbits; they have light grey fur and a long narrow face. Pet rabbits usually have slightly plumper cheeks then their wild cousins and have wide, round eyes.
Wild rabbits will also be wary of humans because they are a prey animal. Both wild and pet rabbits have long ears, fluffy tails, and often prominent teeth.
It can sometimes be hard to tell them apart, as some look almost identical. However, there are several differences. Pet rabbits have been specifically bred to live in our homes and to be handled. They are domesticated pets that are unlikely to survive in the wild. They are used to being fed and sheltered and may not be able to escape from prey as wild rabbits can.
It would be best if you attempted to find the rabbits owner as soon as possible. You can tell if a rabbit is wild or a pet by looking at its size and shape. Wild rabbits have long, narrow faces; pet rabbits have plumper cheeks and wide, round eyes. Non-domesticated rabbits will be afraid of humans as they are prey animals and will never approach us. How you should treat a rabbit depends on whether it is wild or domesticated.
Any free animal should be left alone. Attempting to engage may frighten the rabbit. A lost pet will be scared and confused, and possibly hungry. You should try to find the owner of an escaped rabbit. To the layperson, wild and domesticated rabbits look identical. All rabbits have large ears, prominent teeth, and fluffy tails. Despite this, there is a range of differences.
The rabbits we keep in our homes are specifically bred to be domesticated pets. These rabbits would not survive in the wild. Likewise, you should never attempt to tame a wild rabbit. Most often, a wild rabbit will be a Cottontail. There are 14 breeds of rabbit found in the U. All pet rabbits are breeds that originate in Europe. Observe the size, shape, and most notably, the behavior of the rabbit. These will reveal if the rabbit was born free or escaped captivity.
Things to look out for include:. Keep your distance, staying still and quiet.
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