Wild bunny takes over backyard

[Eepster]

 A wild bunny has moved into our backyard and we see him/her there almost everyday, sometimes several times a day.  I’ve seen him/her with a mate in our driveway (I actually had to get out of my car and shoo at them to be able to pull in.)  I think there is a warrren somewhere behind the neighbors garage.  

I have two separate things to ask.  First off, I am nervous about taking Porky out into the backyard for fresh air, fresh grass, and sunshine.  I usually start taking him out in the spring once the weather is nice, but I don’t want him catching something like an illness or fleas from the wild bunny.   I’m also worried about picking fresh greens and flowers for Porky from the yard for the same reason.

The other thing I was wondering is if it would be good to put out pellets for the wild bunny that Porky has rejected.  We have one bag of his usual Oxbow pellets that he would only barely nibble at half the bowl of each day.  We think they must have been stale and bought a new bag which Porky munchs down with his normal gusto.  So we have a nearly full bag of unwanted pellets.  Plus we have a bag of a different brand that we bought in an emergency when the pet store had a proble, with a delayed oxbow shipment (that was when my husband started ordering it online from the place the stale bag came from.)  The wild bunny is already pretty relaxed around people since it lives here in the suburbs, so I don’t think lettingit get a wee bit tamer will hurt it.  I wonder though, if there are other down sides to feeding it. 

[NewBunnyOwner123]

I wouldn’t feed the wildlife. Instead, why not donate that food to a shelter?

[peppypoo]

I think your concerns about disease transmission from the wild bunny are definitely valid…even if not for fleas, there are a lot of species-specific pathogens that are transmitted through droppings and body waste that Porky could pick up from the ground. However, I don’t think there should be much harm in picking fresh greens and flowers, as long as you give them a good wash before feeding Porky.

As for the pellets, I love NewBunnyOwner123’s idea! I’m sure a shelter would love the donation.

[Eepster]

I figured if Porky was unhappy with the pellets the shelter bunnies would be too, but I guess they are probably less spoiled than Porky.

[Sarita]

I wouldn’t feed wild rabbits pellets simply because it’s not something they would naturally get in the wild and you don’t want them dependent on them.

[bullrider76543]

Pellets are not a good idea for wild bunnies!! remember they were developed by farmers trying to fatten up bunnies as soon as possible for market. you might consider putting up some rabbit wire around the greens, and making a rabbit run area that is closed off where the wild buns can not get in. I have an enclosed run for my buns and they are never out there without my supervision.

[Author]

Messages