Can I Preserve a Wild Rabbit as a Pet? Vet Reviewed Details & What to Do

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You will get a bunny at a pet retailer or from a breeder, however it’s best to by no means catch a wild bunny and attempt to preserve them as a pet. However why is that this the case, and what do you have to do for those who discover a child bunny nest? We’ll reply these questions for you right here, however for those who’re contemplating preserving a wild bunny as a pet—don’t.

Can You Preserve a Wild Rabbit as a Pet?

No. Even for those who assume you realize every thing you want to look after a wild bunny efficiently, it’s each unlawful (relying on the state) and merciless to take action. Due to this, it’s best to by no means preserve a wild rabbit as a pet, irrespective of how cute they’re or how prepared you assume you might be to care for one.

Prime 4 Causes Why You Shouldn’t Preserve a Wild Rabbit as a Pet

When you may assume you realize what you want to know to look after a wild rabbit, there’s a plethora of causes you shouldn’t. We’ve highlighted 4 of them for you right here:

1. It’s Unlawful

There are many the reason why you shouldn’t catch and attempt to elevate a wild rabbit, however do you know that it’s really unlawful to catch and lift wild rabbits in a lot of the United States and not using a allow?

2. It’s Arduous to Tame Them

One cause it’s best to by no means attempt to catch and lift wild rabbits is that it’s extraordinarily laborious to tame them. Wild rabbits don’t wish to reside in captivity. They’re used to the wild, they usually like residing that approach.

Which means for those who attempt to catch them and preserve them in a hutch, they’re unlikely to be glad. Not solely that however they’re extra more likely to chunk and nip, they usually positively gained’t need you petting them.

3. They Can Carry Ailments

Pet rabbits in captivity are far much less more likely to carry ailments you may catch in comparison with wild rabbits. Zoonotic ailments that wild rabbits can carry embody ringworm, exterior parasites similar to fleas, pasteurellosis and ringworm.

4. They Don’t Like It

Do you wish to personal a pet rabbit that doesn’t need you to personal them? That’s the case with wild rabbits. Even for those who get them to settle down a bit, which is kind of difficult, that doesn’t imply they wish to be there. Wild rabbits wish to be within the wild, and it’s merciless to maintain them wherever else.

What to Do if You Uncover Child Rabbits

Usually individuals attempt to “rescue” child rabbits as a result of they discover them of their yards and don’t know what else to do with them. It’s a reasonably frequent prevalence since rabbits construct their nests in comparatively open areas, making yards a standard nesting spot for them. However simply since you uncover the nest doesn’t imply their mom deserted them, and it doesn’t imply they want you to care for them.

1. Examine for Apparent Accidents

Usually if you uncover a bunny nest it’s since you stepped on or close to it or disturbed it in another approach. If that is so, you’ll wish to verify on the bunnies earlier than doing anything. If there are indicators of harm then contact your wildlife service division for recommendation. However so long as you don’t see bleeding or different apparent indicators of harm, it’s best to depart them within the nest.

2. Get better the Nest

Should you peeked in to verify on the infant bunnies, it’s best to recuperate the nest with the unique nesting materials. Don’t discover your personal nesting materials and don’t add to it; merely use what was already there to recuperate the nest. Even for those who occur to by chance contact the infant bunny, the mom will nonetheless come again, so depart them in there and canopy the nest again up.

3. Mark the Nest

Generally, it’s powerful to identify bunny nests, and for those who don’t make it simpler so that you can discover it once more, there’s an opportunity you’ll by chance disturb it once more. That’s why we suggest marking the world with one thing like a backyard flag. Put it close to the nest however not proper on it.

4. Go away It Alone!

When you mark the nest, all you want to do is depart the nest alone! The mom bunny ought to be again to look after her younger. Rabbit moms usually go to their nests to feed their infants twice a day, often round nightfall and daybreak.  Let nature take its course and depart the bunnies and the nest alone, irrespective of how badly you wish to intervene.

Closing Ideas

Now that you realize a bit extra about why you shouldn’t attempt to elevate a wild rabbit as a pet, all you want to do is depart them on the market as soon as you discover them. It would appear to be they want you to care for them, however wild rabbits have been caring for themselves lengthy earlier than people began to intervene.

Featured Picture Credit score: Anne Katherine Jones, Shutterstock