Domestic or not

Question
Hello, Last year i found a baby rabbit in my backyard and I kept it as a pet. My bunny is all black and has ears sticking straight up. Well right down the street from my house is a horse corral. And all the bunnies i see at the horse corral are all black and pointy earred like mine. My question is is my bunny domestic or wild?

Answer
Dear Stephanie,

Although it's possible for wild rabbits/cottontails to be melanistic if they have an unusual mutation, it's pretty rare.  I'm betting that your bunny is an escaped domestic bunny, and that his family might indeed be right down the street.

If you want to send me a clear picture at dana@miami.edu I can tell you for sure if your little guy is a domestic or a melanistic wild rabbit.

Hope that helps.

Dana