How to catch runaway bunnies

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

Hello, I have recently been alerted to some dumped bunnies. Apparently they have been wandering around the neighborhood for a week now. They have been fed by the neighborhood kids but won’t get close enough for capture. does anyone have tips on how to catch bunnies? Thanks!

[Tara44]

Our Pancakes is the product of dumped bunnies. We set out kale and hay to try and coax them into a safe corner of the carpark they were living in, and in time Pancakes was so trusting that he just came right up to us. His siblings were not so easy and we had to effectively trap them into a box filled with kale. Now they’re all in safe loving homes so it was a successful mission.

[tobyluv]

This article might be helpful. http://www.columbusrabbit.org/strays.php

I’ve been involved in a couple of rescues, some are easy, but most aren’t that easy. Besides banana, which is mentioned, you can try apple or pear to lure a bunny to you.

Make sure that you have carriers at hand to quickly get the rabbits into.  Tell people how difficult it can be to hold onto a rabbit, so they should get them in the carrier right away.  If they slip out of your grasp, they could get injured, or they will run off and you will likely never get them.  Be sure not to chase them, but to corral them toward a fence or structure, or in a garage, then close in on them.

The article mentions using x-pens to create a place to corral them into.  I have found that it’s also helpful to put a few of the wire cube squares together to use to carry around with you to block off access or to help you catch a rabbit that might run out from under a structure.  The x-pens are too heavy to carry around and are more for permanent placing of a corral, but the wire cube squares are more lightweight to carry around.  If you put together 6 squares, that makes something light enough to carry, which is useful in using for blocking off or capture.

You can use a Hav-a-Hart trap, baited with fruit, but it would have to be monitored closely,  You don’t want the rabbit in there long, since it can injure itself from fright or a predator can come upon it.  You also have to make sure that other animals, like possums, don’t go in and get trapped.

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

Anyone know what I should do after catching the buns??? I know birds require sugar water. is this the same case for dumped bunnies?

[tobyluv]

They should have water and hay and they can have some pellets too. You could also try a small amount of one or two greens, if they hesitate to eat the hay, but since they may never have been fed greens before, you do have to be careful with that. They should of course be taken to a safe place. Do you have cages and pens for them? And do you know of a shelter or rescue that will take them? If they’ve been wondering around, eating grass and vegetation, it’s always possible that they picked up worms. Fecal tests can be done if their droppings don’t look normal. They also may have picked up fleas or ticks, so they should be checked for those. It’s best to keep any stray rabbits away from your own rabbits in case there are fleas

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

are there any home remedies for fleas? yes i was planning on keeping them in the bathroom. i have extra cages and hay. should i feed them critical care or alfalfa?

[vanessa]

You could feed them alfalfa and timothy and see how they eat. If they don’t eat, then try critical care. I woud get them checked out at a vet for fleas/worms etc. Selamectin is used for fleas. I found a flea on Lancelot and I put vaseline on my finger, touched the flea, and the vaseline made it imobile. I was having a hard time catching it otherwise…
How close do they let you get to them?

[tobyluv]

They would probably enjoy some alfalfa hay. Critical care would only be necessary if they weren’t eating anything. They will likely be hungry for pellets after being out on their own.

There are no home remedies for fleas. Revolution for kittens is what is commonly used, but you have to get that from a vet. Do NOT ever use Frontline.

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

I just picked them up and brought them back home. They look to be less than a year old. The baby of the two will let me get really close but not touch. the other will only let me get three feet. I am letting them adjust to their environment so that they can eat, poop, and drink water. after that I will see how much they are eating/drinking, the condition of their poop and see if i can flea comb them

[jerseygirl]

Good for you! Thank you for rescuing them. I wonder if they are Easter cast-offs?

Im putting link here for your thread about fleas: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/160326/Default.aspx

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

yeah. i think they are easter dumps. they look to be less than a year old and easter was about 2 months ago

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

i just can’t tell if one of them is a true netherland dwarf or a dutch mix. hes about two pounds with short erect ears that are positioned at the top of the crown. white body with dark gray spotting. face shape isn’t really dwarf like so i’m not really sure if its a dwarf of a baby bun

[tobyluv]

I’m so glad that you rescued them! I know from experience that it’s not always easy and sometimes you can’t get them all. I hope that they are healthy and will eat well. Thanks for saving them!

[Author]

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