Rabbit thumping at night: How to stop it?

Question
Our male cashmere lop rabbit is just over a year old and lives in a metal hutch on our back covered deck. Every now and then in the middle of the night we get woken by the noise of him thumping his back foot over and over. It makes a huge noise and we are worried the neighbors will start complaining. Do you know why he would be doing this and what we can do to stop it? Thanks.

Answer
Dear Tania,

Even though he is in a metal hutch, he's still outdoors and able to see and smell any scary predator or stranger that comes by.  His thumping is no doubt in response to his seeing/smelling/hearing passing opossums, cats, raccoons, foxes, or whatever potentially dangerous wildlife you have in your area.

There is no way to stop this normal, adaptive behavior except by doing the best thing for his health and safety:  bring him to live inside and be a member of the family.  It is easy to litterbox train rabbits, once spayed/neutered, and you'll wonder how you ever got along without a house rabbit.  :)  Please start here:

http://www.rabbit.org/care/new-bunny-index.html

for all the best and most accurate information.

Note that there is no such thing as a safe outdoor hutch for a rabbit, even inside a screened patio.  In fact, a caged rabbit is far more at risk from raccoon attack than a free one, since it cannot escape.  I have heard of far too many stories of raccoons breaking into a balcony or patio, and then proceeding to pull a caged rabbit's feet through the floor and chewing them off.  Please don't leave your bunny at risk of predator attack.  He knows he's in danger, and that's why he's thumping.

I hope this helps you make the change to having a safe, happy house rabbit as a member of your family.  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Take care,
Dana