terrified of leaf blower sounds, worried about Totoro’s safety

[bunnyfriend]

Sorry I feel like I’m posting a lot of questions lately, I hope it’s not too annoying.

This morning I woke up to hearing loud crashing and thumping noises and I found Totoro running (hopping very fast) absolutely terrified outside of his xpen. Catching him took almost 5 minutes because he would run behind the curtains and then to the opposite side of the room. The neighbor was using a very loud leaf blower and I’m almost 100% positive that is what was scaring him. It was awful because he was sort of skidding and crashing into things and I was so worried that he was going to get hurt. I ride horses and the best way I can describe it is when a horse gets spooked over something and starts freaking out. Once I did get ahold of him the leaf blower was still being used and he was shaking and his eyes were big so I brought him on a couch with me and he hid in between my arm and side until it was off. I’m a little aprehensive of asking my neighbors never to use leaf blowers but I’m concerned about his safety. Should I get rid of his x pen and just have him in the room with the baby gate in the doorway? I’m assuming he jumped over it. I’m also worried about other sounds affecting him like this. I’m just not sure what to do, I’ve never seen a bunny act like this before. I don’t know anything about how he ended up stray or what kind of situation he was in before that, the humane society didn’t mention anything about him being traumatized or anything.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Does he do the same with vacuums? Wow that he completely cleared the xpen!
I don’t know that there’s anything that you really can do so I hope someone else has more help, but the good news is how often can someone use a leafblower?

ETA and you’re not too annoying! Its a great question!

[bunnyfriend]

 Haha thanks  He doesn’t seem to mind the vacuum which is weird. Do you think that he could get hurt trying to jump over the xpen? Not too often, and winter is coming soon here lol. 

[Sam and Lady's Human]

I don’t know if he could get hurt, I imagine its always possible. Is the room completely rabbit proofed that you could leave the pen open to it? I wouldn’t get rid of it completely, I did that to Samson and she got territorial (even though she’s spayed) of the whole room but went back to normal when I gave her “her” space but with access to everywhere. I’m sure that doesn’t apply to all rabbits, but its something to watch for

Maybe he doesn’t mind the vacuum because he has visual warning for it but the leaf blower was really sudden.

[Stickerbunny]

He could catch a leg or something, but most likely he won’t hurt himself jumping over it. Maybe you could ask your neighbor to give you a heads up when they are going to use the leaf blower, so you can take precautions with him until he gets a little more used to the noise?

[bunnyfriend]

Yes the room is completely rabbit proof, however I just realized the baby gate is shorter than the xpen! I can keep the door shut though. Very interesting about Samson being territorial of the room, I’ll keep the xpen for him then in case, it might make him feel more safe. Stickerbunny- good idea, I’ll ask them to give me a heads up, it would definitely be bad neighbor-y than asking them never to like I was thinking lol

[bunnyfriend]

Oh also has anyone heard of rabbits hurting themselves from running around and sliding a little?

[LBJ10]

They normally don’t hurt themselves doing that, but it is possible if they smack into something.

I imagine he will eventually become desensitized to it. Maybe your neighbor could help by using the leaf blower for shorter periods of time?

[Stickerbunny]

Stickers flips out over a lot of things (even me walking in the hallway will freak her out if she’s near the door and doesn’t expect the floor creaking) and she’s never hurt herself. Make sure he has traction so he doesn’t try to stop and skid into a wall or something, but he should be OK. Maybe you could give him a treat he likes when the noise starts up and he might associate it with something less scary? Stickers always stops freaking out if she sees the craisin bag, no matter how scared she is (she’s a piggy though )

[bunnyfriend]

Yeah I’m hoping he’ll become desensitized! Hahahah bunnies are weird, right now there’s a thunderstorm going on and once again Totoro is scared but not like earlier today. Bhahaha Totoro is a piggy too, he eats ALL day literally. If Wilbur gets one craisin she’ll go insane.

[Author]

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