{"id":557,"date":"2023-08-07T20:59:37","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T20:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flipsideviber.net\/?p=557"},"modified":"2023-08-08T00:16:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T00:16:47","slug":"can-i-keep-a-wild-rabbit-as-a-pet-vet-reviewed-facts-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/flipsideviber.net\/index.php\/2023\/08\/07\/can-i-keep-a-wild-rabbit-as-a-pet-vet-reviewed-facts-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I Keep a Wild Rabbit as a Pet? Vet Reviewed Facts & What to Do"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Can You Keep a Wild Rabbit as a Pet?<\/a>
\nWhy You Shouldn\u2019t Keep a Wild Rabbit as a Pet<\/a>
\nWhat to Do if You Uncover Baby Rabbits<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

You can get a bunny at a pet store or from a breeder, but you should never <\/em>catch a wild bunny and try to keep them as a pet<\/strong>. But why is this the case, and what should you do if you find a baby bunny nest? We\u2019ll answer those questions for you here, but if you\u2019re considering keeping a wild bunny as a pet\u2014don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\"divider-rabbitpaw1\"Can You Keep a Wild Rabbit as a Pet?<\/h2>\n

No. Even if you think you know everything you need to care for a wild bunny successfully, it\u2019s both illegal (depending on the state) and cruel to do so. Because of this, you should never keep a wild rabbit as a pet, no matter how cute they are or how ready you think you are to take care of one.<\/p>\n

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Top 4 Reasons Why You Shouldn\u2019t Keep a Wild Rabbit as a Pet<\/h2>\n

While you might think you know what you need to know to care for a wild rabbit, there\u2019s a plethora of reasons you shouldn\u2019t. We\u2019ve highlighted four of them for you here:<\/p>\n

1.<\/span> It\u2019s Illegal<\/h3>\n

There are plenty of reasons why you shouldn\u2019t catch and try to raise a wild rabbit, but did you know that it\u2019s actually illegal to catch and raise wild rabbits in most of the United States without a permit?<\/p>\n

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2.<\/span> It\u2019s Hard to Tame Them<\/h3>\n

One reason you should never try to catch and raise wild rabbits is that it\u2019s extremely hard to tame them. Wild rabbits don\u2019t want to live in captivity. They\u2019re used to the wild, and they like living that way.<\/p>\n

This means that if you try to catch them and keep them in a hutch, they\u2019re unlikely to be happy. Not only that but they\u2019re more likely to bite and nip, and they definitely won\u2019t want you petting them.<\/p>\n

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3.<\/span> They Can Carry Diseases<\/h3>\n

Pet rabbits in captivity are far less likely to carry diseases you can catch compared to wild rabbits. Zoonotic diseases that wild rabbits can carry include ringworm, external parasites such as fleas, pasteurellosis and ringworm.<\/p>\n

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4.<\/span> They Don\u2019t Like It<\/h3>\n

Do you want to own a pet rabbit that doesn\u2019t want you to own them? That\u2019s the case with wild rabbits<\/a>. Even if you get them to calm down a bit, which is quite challenging, that doesn\u2019t mean they want to be there. Wild rabbits want to be in the wild, and it\u2019s cruel to keep them anywhere else.<\/p>\n

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What to Do if You Uncover Baby Rabbits<\/h2>\n

Often people try to \u201crescue\u201d baby rabbits because they find them in their yards and don\u2019t know what else to do with them. It\u2019s a pretty common occurrence since rabbits build their nests in relatively open areas, making yards a common nesting spot for them. But just because you discover the nest doesn\u2019t mean their mother abandoned them, and it doesn\u2019t mean they need you to take care of them.<\/p>\n

1.<\/span> Check for Obvious Injuries<\/h3>\n

Often when you discover a bunny nest it\u2019s because you stepped on or near it or disturbed it in some other way. If this is the case, you\u2019ll want to check on the bunnies before doing anything else. If there are signs of injury then contact your wildlife service department for advice. But as long as you don\u2019t see bleeding or other obvious signs of injury, you should leave them in the nest.<\/p>\n

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2.<\/span> Recover the Nest<\/h3>\n

If you peeked in to check on the baby bunnies<\/a>, you should recover the nest with the original nesting material. Don\u2019t find your own nesting material and don\u2019t add to it; simply use what was already there to recover the nest. Even if you happen to accidentally touch the baby bunny, the mother will still come back, so leave them in there and cover the nest back up.<\/p>\n

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3.<\/span> Mark the Nest<\/h3>\n

Sometimes, it\u2019s tough to spot bunny nests, and if you don\u2019t make it easier for you to find it again, there\u2019s a chance you\u2019ll accidentally disturb it again. That\u2019s why we recommend marking the area with something like a garden flag. Put it near the nest but not right on it.<\/p>\n

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4.<\/span> Leave It Alone!<\/h3>\n

Once you mark the nest, all you need to do is leave the nest alone! The mother bunny should be back to care for her young. Rabbit mothers typically visit their nests to feed their babies twice a day, usually around dusk and dawn.\u00a0 Let nature take its course and leave the bunnies and the nest alone, no matter how badly you want to intervene.<\/p>\n

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Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n

Now that you know a little more about why you shouldn\u2019t try to raise a wild rabbit as a pet<\/a>, all you need to do is leave them out there once you find them. It might seem like they need you to take care of them, but wild rabbits have been taking care of themselves long before humans started to intervene.<\/p>\n

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