How to lift a shy bunny?

Question
This is our first rabbbit.He was 8 weeks old when we got him. Andy has a sweet personality as long as you don't lift him. He started to bite as a youngster if we lifted him and thus we quite. He greets us and lets us pet him but scuttles away if he feels threatened. He has free run of the laundry room which we "rabbit- proofed". We give him fresh foods as well as rabbit pellets.He loves to shred cardboard boxes, I don't see him eat the pieces and he uses it as a bed.We offer other objects occ. as toys.How can we accustom him to being lifted? I have read two different ways to pick up a rabbit,both opposing the other. Also, does he have to have access to the outdoors?
Thanks for your time.

Answer
Dear Yvonne,

Most rabbits do  not like to be picked up an carried or held.  They are prey animals, and as such, they prefer to have their feet on the ground and feel in control of their own escape routes.  I would not force him to be cuddled if it's against his personality.  Rather, interact with him on his level by lying on the floor and cuddling him.  That way he'll feel safe and secure, and be more likely to give you his trust so that eventually he'll be more likely to let you pick him up, if you do it properly.

Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/shybun.html

and especially this one, on the correct way to pick up a bunny:

http://www.mnhouserabbit.org/care/handling.html

Hope that helps.

Rabbits do not need constant access to the outdoors, and shouldn't be outside without constant human supervision.  It takes only seconds for a predator to strike, and very few yards are completely predator proof.  A fox, raccoon or cat can easily negotiate any type of six-foot fence, and birds of prey can swoop down from a tree before you even know they're there.

So though it's fun and healthy for him to play in the yard (no pesticides or fertilzers!) when you're there to guard him, don't leave him unsupervised even for a minute.  

Good luck,

Dana