This is the weirdest thing to happen to me in a long time!
2 nights ago, my husband and children were heading out at about dusk. I was not feeling good so I stayed home. I got a phone call from hubby from the yard saying there was "crazy rabbit" running around. There was a lot of kids yelling in the back ground.
I just kinda blew it off thinking they were over reacting and a wild rabbit was running around.
Well my daughter set a "trap" for the rabbit. She is 9. She put a cat carrier next to our gate. She filled it with hay and carrots. My daughter does stuff like this all the time so I didnt think anything of it.
Well the next night at dusk my daughter goes to check the trap. She comes in the house yelling that the rabbit is back. SO I get up and go outside.
There i see the biggest rabbit I have ever seen in my life and I was a vet tech for 12 years. I have had rabbits my whole life. I have never seen anything like it in my life. Its grey with HUGE long ears that stand straight up. It weighs 15-18 pounds easily.
It was clearly very hungry. It was trying to eat the dead grass. SO I threw a handful of hay in its direction. He ate it hungrily. This was clearly not a wild rabbit. It was not afraid of us at all. eventually I walked up to it and put my hand down and he ran right up to me. I grabbed his scruff and picked him up and put him in the carrier.
Now what the heck am I going to do with it? I have 2 pet rabbits that live in an outdoor hutch. I was not about to put it in with them for many reasons.
So I decided to put it in my dogs crate in my living room. This is a crate for a bulldog. The rabbit barely fits in this cage.
I thought it was dead when I woke up this am. It was flat on its side. I opened the cage and it didnt move. I poked it on the forehead and it just opened its eyes and looked at me like What the heck do you want!
Then one of my cats who is about the 1/4 of the size of the rabbit and pretty scared of it, gingerly put his paw through the bars and poked the rabbit in the head. The rabbit just kept eating.
Rabbits generally do not eat if they are stressed out or sick. SO i think its ok. I am tempted to bring it to the vet just to find out the breed.
I have put calls into animal control and the animal hospital to let them know I have this rabbit. I certainly wont just turn the rabbit over to animal control, but just in case someone is looking for it. I really think someone just dumped it or set it free.
It hasnt been out long. We have had 4 feet of snow just until last week. There is nothing for it to eat. He is fat so I really think this just happened.
I would consider keeping it, the problem is that I just dont have $300-$400 for an outdoor cage. I am looking at craigs list for a used one. This rabbit will not fit into any old cage either.
I mean this looks like a creature from the plains of africa. I am still shocked by it.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Wow!! Wish you could post a pic!!
He must have been TIRED .. probably the first good rest he's had since someone let him go.
Makes you wonder what they've been feeding him!!
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Maybe it's the Easter bunny!! Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
merrygirl - what did you end up doing? did you find out the breed?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
WOW!
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
It appears to be a new zealand rabbit. There is a link to a photo a few posts up. Its not the actual photo of the rabbit I have but looks so similar.
I think we are going to end up keeping it. we are getting attatched!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Check it for ticks!
Posted by sizzled (Member # 1357) on :
Easter bunny?? Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
I did a quick tick check. no ticks that I could find.... oh and "harvey" is a girl lol
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
Do you think it could be a flemish giant? They grow to be around 20lbs.
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
What a nice Easter present for the kids! Maybe you can litter box train it?!
Posted by Squeaky Clean (Member # 31064) on :
merrygirl,
i just finished your post asking for prayers. you are in mine -- and sending good vibes too. congrats on the baby girl.
i'm new so i don't know you. it is nice to feel you smiling here. not all is bad.
looking forward to knowing you (and everybody else) more!!
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
So what's the latest on the Eater Bunny? Are you keeping it?
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Thanks for your kind words.
We are keeping the bunny. He is still in the dogs cage in the house. I hope my uncle or brother will build an outdoor cage soon. He is pretty messy and stinky..
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
Is it friendly? I would hope so given it's size. I would imagine it could do some damage if it bites!
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
It is extremely friendly. Much more calm than the rabbits I already have. It is also becoming good friends with one of my young cats.. they lick each other and play- its really weird. But The bunny was trying to mate with the cat today. Kinda of a strange sight, and the cat didnt know what to do.
It was kind of funny since the rabbit is 2x the size of the cat....hahahaha
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
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