Has an adorable long-eared furball suddenly appeared in your backyard or neighborhood? Do you want to help this potential pet get home safely but aren’t sure how to tell if it’s a domestic rabbit or wild rabbit? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn clear tips to identify escaped pet rabbits, steps to capture and care for lost bunnies, and effective techniques to locate worried owners eager to reunite with their hopping companions. From examining physical features to utilizing online lost and found resources, we’ll cover all you need to know to get that cuddly escapee back where they belong! Let’s hop to it!
Wild vs. Domestic Rabbits
There are some key differences between wild and domesticated rabbits that can help you determine whether a rabbit you come across is a pet or wild animal. Here are the main factors to look for:
Appearance
Domestic rabbits tend to be larger and have a wider variety of coat colors and patterns compared to wild rabbits. Wild rabbits in the U.S. are most commonly cottontail rabbits, which have brownish gray fur and white tails. Domestic rabbits can be white, black, brown, spotted, or mixed colors. Their fur is also often thicker and softer than wild rabbits.
Size
A typical wild cottontail rabbit weighs between 2-4 lbs while domesticated rabbits are usually over 4 lbs and can weigh over 10 lbs depending on the breed. If you spot a very large rabbit, it is likely someone's pet.
Ear Shape
Rabbit ears come in different shapes and sizes. Wild cottontails tend to have shorter, rounded ears close to the head. Domestic rabbits have longer droopy ears that stick out more. Lop-eared breeds have very long floppy ears that hand down alongside the face.
Environment
If you find a rabbit in a natural outdoor environment like the woods or a field, it is probably a wild rabbit. A rabbit wandering in a neighborhood, park or backyard is more likely domestic. However, be aware that pets do sometimes escape outdoor enclosures.
Collar
A rabbit wearing a collar is a clear sign it is a pet, though lack of collar does not guarantee a rabbit is wild. Check for any other signs of domestication like ear tattoos, unusual fur colors, or comfort around people.
Behavior
Wild rabbits are very skittish and alert, ready to bolt at the slightest noise or movement. They do not typically approach humans. A calm and docile rabbit that lets you get near it is likely someone's escaped pet.
Pay close attention to the rabbit's eyes, ears, size, fur, and environment to determine if it is wild or domesticated. If it exhibits multiple domestic traits like colorful fur, floppy ears, large size, and comfort with people, the rabbit likely belongs to someone.
What To Do If You Find a Lost Domesticated Rabbit
If you determine a rabbit you come across is likely domestic, here are some steps to take:
1. Catch the rabbit safely. Approach slowly and gently to not startle the rabbit. Wear thick gloves to protect your hands. You can try luring the rabbit with some fresh veggies or using a blanket or towel to pick it up securely. Support the full body rather than grabbing at legs or ears.
2. Contain the rabbit. Place the rabbit in a ventilated box or pet carrier with a blanket and some greens or hay for comfort. Keep it contained and warm until you can get it to a shelter. Make sure any containment has air flow and is escape proof.
3. Check for identification. Carefully examine the rabbit for any collar, ear tag or tattoo that could provide info on the owner. Even without ID, the breed, markings and temperament can sometimes be recognized by the original owner.
4. Contact local vets and shelters. Call vets, pet stores and animal shelters in your area and report finding the rabbit. Provide detailed description of markings and breed. They may know of a missing pet reported in the area.
5. Post "Found Pet" flyers. Make flyers with the rabbit's photo and where/when you found it. Post at local vets, pet stores, shelters. List your contact info for anyone with info to reach you.
6. Advertise online. Post about finding the rabbit on neighborhood forums, Craigslist and sites like Nextdoor. Social media sites like Facebook often have dedicated lost and found pet pages.
7. Arrange medical care. Take the rabbit to a vet for a health checkup and to scan for a microchip with the owner's contact information. Provide food, water and litter box until the owner is located.
8. Contact animal control. If no owner is found after flyers, online posts and contacting vets, report the found pet to local animal control. They will hold strays for a period before putting up for adoption.
9. Consider adoption. If you become attached to the rabbit, consider legally adopting it if the original owner does not surface after an extensive search. Be prepared for the responsibility of proper long-term diet, housing and vet care.
Follow these steps to do your best to reunite a lost domestic rabbit with its original family. With some luck and perseverance, you can help a missing pet find its way back home.
How to Check the Health of an Escaped Pet Rabbit
If you manage to capture a stray domestic rabbit, it is important to assess its health and care for any immediate needs before attempting to find the owner. Here is how to check an escaped pet rabbit's health:
1. Observe behavior and activity level. Note if the rabbit moves normally and is alert vs. lethargic. Does it readily eat and drink offered food and water? Any limping, staggering or abnormal motions can indicate injury or illness.
2. Check for injuries, wounds and parasites. Look for any lacerations, bleeding or swelling, especially on the feet and legs if the rabbit hopped a long way. Check for fleas parting the fur. Look for any discharge around eyes, nose or genital areas.
3. Feel for weight and hydration. Gently feel the rabbit's hindquarters and ribs to check for adequate muscle and fat. Sunken eyes or skin can indicate dehydration. Underweight rabbits may need nutrition assistance.
4. Inspect teeth and claws. Overgrown teeth and nails can impair eating. Check that incisors meet evenly and are not overgrown into a misaligned overbite. The claws should not excessively curl or extend from the fur.
5. Monitor temperature. A rabbit's normal body temperature is 101-103° F. If you suspect fever or hypothermia, take the rabbit's temperature rectally with a special small animal thermometer.
6. Provide hydration and nutrition. Offer fresh water, rabbit pellets, and vegetables to see if the rabbit drinks and eats normally. This also prevents GI issues from sudden diet changes when reunited with the owner.
7. Arrange veterinary care. For any significant injury, illness, or poor body condition, take the rabbit to a veterinarian right away for diagnosis and treatment. Severe cases may need hospitalization.
8. Quarantine from other pets. Until vet-checked, isolate the stray rabbit from existing pets to prevent spread of contagious diseases. Rabbits can carry parasites, bacteria, and viruses potentially harmful to other animals and humans.
Caring for the medical needs of a stray rabbit is crucial for its wellbeing. Address any urgent conditions before the shelter search. The healthier the rabbit when reunited, the better for both pet and owner.
How to Reunite an Escaped Pet Rabbit with the Owner
If you rescue an escaped pet rabbit, the ultimate goal is reuniting it with the worried owner. Here are some effective approaches to locate the family of a stray domestic rabbit:
Check for identification. Carefully comb the rabbit's fur looking for a collar, ear tattoo, or microchip. Contact the associated veterinarian or microchip company to get owner information.
Contact local vets and shelters. Call all nearby animal hospitals, pet stores and shelters to report finding the rabbit. Leave your contact information in case an owner reaches out about a lost pet.
Post flyers. Make "Found Rabbit" flyers with the rabbit's photo and hang them at local veterinarian offices, pet supply stores, parks, schools and community boards.
Post on Nextdoor and other social media. Report finding the rabbit on neighborhood apps like Nextdoor and lost/found pet Facebook groups specific to your city or county.
List on Craigslist. In the lost and found section, create a post titled "Found Rabbit" with the date and location you found it. Check the lost + found forums daily.
Bring the rabbit to the local animal shelter. Most shelters will hold strays for a period before adopting them out to new homes. Owners often call shelters looking for lost pets.
Consider taking the rabbit in yourself. If you bond with the rabbit and no owner emerges after extensive searching, discuss adoption with your local animal shelter after the stray hold period.
Get the rabbit microchipped. When adopted, get the rabbit microchipped and tagged with your contact info so it can be returned if lost again.
Persistence and utilizing all possible avenues to get the word out can help locate worried owners desperate to be reunited with their missing furry friends. Don't give up if they don't surface immediately.
Can I Keep a Lost Domestic Rabbit as My Own Pet?
It is understandable to become attached to a stray domestic rabbit you rescue. However, there are important legal and ethical considerations before keeping a found rabbit versus turning it over to authorities to locate the owner:
Report it. In most areas, you are required by law to report finding a stray pet to animal control or shelters. You may face penalties for keeping a found pet without reporting.
It may belong to someone. While tempting to assume an unclaimed stray is "up for grabs," someone may be eagerly searching for a beloved lost pet. Keeping a pet that isn't yours is ethically dubious.
Owner may still surface. Just because the owner does not immediately materialize does not mean a found rabbit is a free pet. Given more time, the original family may still locate their pet.
Shelters can adopt it legally. After the mandatory stray hold period, if no owner comes forth, the shelter can formally assume ownership and adopt the rabbit to you through proper legal channels.
Vet care may be needed. Stray pets often need medical treatment you'd have to pay for if you took ownership outside the system. Shelters and rescues fund care before adopting out pets.
It's rewarding to return pets. While keeping a found pet may seem appealing, the immense relief and joy of reuniting an animal with its ecstatic owner is extremely rewarding.
Though emotionally hard, turning in found pets to the proper authorities is the ethical and legal choice. However, you may still ultimately adopt the pet if no owner claims it during its stray hold. Put yourself in the owner's shoes – you'd want someone to return your lost beloved companion.
References:
https://rabbitbreeders.us/questions-and-answers/how-to-tell-if-a-rabbit-is-wild-or-domestic/
https://www.rabbitsforsale.com/questions-and-answers/wild-or-domestic-rabbit/