Wild rabbit...

Question
Hi, I am a student living in a house with three others in Southern Ontario Canada. We have this floppy-eared bunny hanging around our property and we aren't sure what to do. We've named him Rodney just because he's cute and a nice greeter in the morning bus walk...but we are worried because he is alone and winter is coming. We've looked around for his burrow and haven't found one which makes us wonder if he was abandoned, maybe? I am not totally sure the habits of floppy-eared bunnies, and I have never seen one that is wild, especially around here -- there isn't a forest for miles. Anyway, maybe you know more about the habits of floppy eared bunnies and can offer some advice. He can probably take care of himself but it would be aweful if he died :(

Answer
Hi Kathleen,

lop-eared rabbits are not wild rabbits.  Most likely this is a domestic rabbit that has been abandoned.  Domestic rabbits will not survive the winter outside.  They do not have the skills that wild rabbits have to survive in the wild.  They don't know how to handle predators that are after them as well, he is more of a sitting duck than anything.  

I would suggest starting to gain his/her trust by feeding him  (just going to say him for reply's sake) a baby carrot or two, or pieces of (GREEN) lettuce like a Romaine lettuce or Green Leaf lettuce.  Slowly start moving where you feed him closer to your door until you can get him on the porch or inside the door.  Either that or buy a proper size pet carrier and when he starts getting closer to the house put food in the carrier and then when he's in the carrier close the door and bring him inside.

You will need to read up about bunnyproofing an area inside for him.  Also I would advise getting him into a vet as soon as physically possible as he will probably need some care.  Chances are he isn't fixed (not spayed/neutered) because many times people dump their baby rabbits when they hit sexual maturity because hormonal changes alter their behavior.  A simple spay/neuter can get their sweet bunny back but many people don't know this.

NOw you can do all this even if you can't keep him as a pet.  If you can't keep him as a pet, once you have him safe, call the local rabbit rescue groups around you.  Actually I would probably call them as soon as you can even before you coax him inside because they may be able to get several people out there to safely corral him a lot quicker than you can on your own.

But definitely he is a domestic rabbit and needs your help, either to get others involved - rabbit rescue groups that do not have time limits on animals.  Here are a few places to check on the internet to see if they can help you out with safely recovering this little guy:

http://www.newmoonrabbitrescue.ca/contact/index.php

http://www.rabbitrescue.ca/

http://www.urbanrabbits.com/

http://www.ontariorabbits.org/   (not a rescue group but has good education info)

Write back anytime.  Thanks for caring about this little guy.

Lee