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Thumping rabbit!

22 10:56:38

Question
Last year during the summer months my male rabbit thumped regularly in his hutch during the night. It was really loud and it would disturb my neighbours as well as myself. I would have to go and get him in the middle of the night and put him in the kitchen until it was morning so then he could go outside. My garden is rabbit proof and he runs around and only goes in his hutch at night. I always make sure he has plenty to eat and things to do. His hutch is lined with newspaper shavings and straw. During the winter months his hutch was inside the shed and his thumping stopped. Now he's back outside he's started to do it again and although its not as much as he used to do I am worried that it will soon be and I'm worried that the neighbours will complain as it wakes you up! Why does he do this and any advice to try and make him stop!
Many thanks!

Answer
Dear Gemma,

No matter how secure his hutch is, he is not safe outside at night.  He is most likely thumping because he sees and smells roving predators such as raccoons, cats, foxes, and even opossums, which will attack a caged rabbit even if they cannot catch a free one.

I would strongly urge you to visit:

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

for all the information you need for litterbox training, spay/neuter and other care information for bringing him inside and making him a true member of the family.  You cannot stop him from thumping in his hutch at night, since this is his natural behavior:  a fear response and alert to any other rabbits around (and even to you) that there are predators about, and to be ready to run!

I hope this helps, and that you'll bring bunny inside, at least at night.

Dana