Other rabbits

[ilr369]

I saw a rabbit in my backyard today

Does that mean that there is a warren nearby?

Will this affect my rabbit?

[Erbear]

Is you bun an outside rabbit?

There may be some sort of group of rabbits nearby your home. If it is anything like mine, there may not be a full underground warren but there may be a few scattered here and there living under sheds and in enclosed shrubs. Radar loves watching the other rabbits outside, when they get too close to the building she starts grunting/snorting and thumping her foot. The whole apartment building is hers, apparently.

Your bun can get fleas and other things from contact with the wild buns, or even pregnant if the situation arrises. Just keep an eye on them and they should be fine. There is always a chance that they’re not truly wild buns and that they’ve just been let go by uncaring/unknowing owners. Those rabbits may be a bit bolder, and even come up to you. In that case, you can always turn them over to a rescue.

[Beka27]

i tried to respond to this before when the site wasn’t working… was the bun you saw a wild rabbit or a domestic one? what do you mean by if it will affect your rabbit?

[ilr369]

I have  a indoor rabbit and I think the rabbit was wild because it was brown. I’m wondering if my rabbit will be aggressive, afraid, irritated or other not so happy feelings.

[kimberleyanddarren]

i cant see why.. unless he can smell your bun ie is in the same area as this bun but i dont think your bun will be any different as a result

[Beka27]

possibly if they were both outside at the same time. i know that domestic buns can not breed with wild buns… i’m not sure if they speak the same exact “language” or if there have been variations over time.

[Gravehearted]

it likely is a wild rabbit then, since your bun lives indoors it shouldn’t have any effect on your house bunny. also – some wild rabbits live in warrens, but other types build nests in dense brush.

[ScooterandAnnette]

Please note that wild rabbits in North America are probably cottontails, and not European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). All domestic rabbits including pet rabbits are the latter. They cannot interbreed. If the wild rabbit looks brown with natural brownish coloring but otherwise rabbit-like in shape and proportions, it’s probably a cottontail. If it’s got longer ears or longer hind feet, it’s probably a hare, which would include jackrabbits, none of which can interbreed with European rabbits.

Having said that, there are feral populations of European rabbits in parts of North America from release of pet rabbits that have somehow survived. They are less likely in colder regions, which are cooler than the native range of the European rabbit.

I do agree that fleas and parasites can transfer between a wild rabbit and your pets, so letting them get in physical contact is not recommended.

[ilr369]

Thanks for all your help

[Author]

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