The New England Cottontail used to be a common sight throughout the North Eastern United States. They used to thrive amongst dense hedgerows. They are the only rabbit known to native to Maine. But deforestation and urban sprawl has caused a drop in population believed to be as high as 75%.
Danger, Danger Everywhere.
The New England Cottontail, like most wild animals, is fantastic prey for larger species, such as owls, foxes and hawks. They also face danger from another rabbit species, the Eastern cottontail, a larger, quicker breed introduced from Europe to America in the 1920’s by private hunting clubs to increase the available game population. These rabbits bully their smaller cousins out of their homes, taking over the few suitable habitats that remain.
A Plot to save the Cottontails?
In attempt to prevent the New England Cottontail following species like the Columbia Basin Pygmy rabbit into total extinction, the York Landtrust in Maine has confirmed 2009 the “Year of the Cottontail”. A plot of land known as Highland Farms, really an abandoned and over grown golf course, has proved to be one of the last places in Maine everywhere the New England Cottontail continues to breed and thrive. It has also become the new home of several other threatened species, including the American Woodcock and the black racer snake. The trust is tiresome to preserve these unique conditions and duplicate them in other areas. They also plot to start constructing artificial burrows and adding more of the scrubby brush and hedgerows that the New England Cottontails need to thrive.
The Amami is hardly a recognizable rabbit breed. Even many expert rabbit fanciers do not know it exists. Sadly they may never get the chance to learn in this area these scarce Japanese rabbits, as they are nearly extinct, with less than 5,000 remaining. But, scientists in Osaka are tiresome to make sure that the Amami survives, with the help of cloning.
Struggling to Survive in a Changing World.
The Amami can only be found on two isolated Japanese islands, and have lived happily in dense wooded areas surviving on bamboo shots, berries and other local vegetation. They are now and again called “income fossils” as they are the last remaining descendants of very ancient wild rabbits that once roamed the whole of the Asian continent. They weigh an average of 5 to 6 pounds, and are usually a dark grey in color. Their dwindling numbers have come in this area mainly as a result of human interference in their lives. Up until the 1920’s they were hunted for both meat and health check purposes, then heavy logging in the
Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima Islands everywhere they live all but ruined their habitat. The fact that a healthful Amami doe only usually produces two small litters per year meant that natural restocking could not keep up with decimation being caused by the modern world and its’ people.
Using Science to Save a Species.
The Osaka geneticists, from the noted Kiki University, took cells from the ear of a dead Amami rabbit, and introduced them to an unfertilized egg from a lab rabbit. They did manage to make a viable embryo that was successfully re implanted. Even if the scientists have yet to publically release the consequences of this initially pregnancy, they do intend to continue their work until they are successful. The same team did successfully clone and restore a species of wild rat, so they believe that saving the very ancient Amami is a real possibility.
February 28th, 2009
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The largest of the British rabbit breeds is called, aptly enough, the British Giant. The breed is characterized by its large body, flat on top, and its long erect ears and huge, bright eyes. They do not have especially long fur, usually less than an inch in depth, and can be found in many insignia, from bright white and opal to chocolate brown and black.
Caring for the Larger Bunny
Even if their fur is honestly small, this breed still requires regular and careful grooming and brushing, as their coats tend to mat easily. Eye color will vary from rabbit to rabbit, the white British Giant rabbit but is well known for its piercing pink eyes. Read more…
English Spot Rabbits – Professional Show Offs
The English Rabbit, also known as the English Spot Rabbit is one of the oldest breeds of show rabbit in the world. The original English rabbit was traditionally white and black, or white and blue, but since the 1920s show associations have accepted many other insignia including chocolate, lilac and tortoiseshell.
A Long and Storied History
The English rabbit initially appeared around 1848, in England of course. After an initial burst of popularity on the show circuit the breed the English Spot died out somewhat. But it burst back onto the scene in the late 1880’s in new insignia and varieties and has remained a rabbit fancy favorite ever since. Read more…
The Dwarf Lop – Colorful and Cuddly
A Dwarf Lop is very similar in appearance to its’ similarly sized cousin, the Mini Lop. The only real difference is size, the Dwarf Lop being larger by a beat or so on average.
Both breeds make fantastic pets, but as the Dwarf Lop lives to an average of nine or ten years ancient, they are rabbits that will be around for a long time, with proper care and handling.
Do the Ears Hang Low?
The baby Dwarf Lop is born, like all breeds of lop, with ears that stand up honest. As they mature Read more…
Cute, Cuddly and Economical
The Mini Rex is now the most shown breed in the world, and one of the most well loved with pet owners. Yet they have only really been around since the mid eighties, when Mona Berryhill, a breeder from Texas, successfully bred a Dwarf Rex to a Lynx Rex.
So what is it in this area these small guys that make them so very well loved?
The Mini Rex is of course very small, averaging three to four pounds in weight. Their fur is extremely luxurious but not so long that they require constant grooming. Read more…
Line Breeding is not nearly as complicated as you might reflect, it is a thought that extends to all kinds of animals, from cats to horses, pigs to rabbits. The basic thought never changes.
Line Breeding is the process of breeding “like with like”. That means that the rabbits the line breeder uses all come from the same family line, and have similar all around genetic makeups.
Line Breeding allows the rabbit breeder, professional or hobbyist, to produce Read more…
Why Should I Spay or Neuter my Pet Bunny? Why not Breed?
It may be an attractive thought. Breeding your cute pet bunny, to produce a few more cute bunnies that you could place into a show or sell to the local pet store.
But, rabbit breeding is a serious affair, and thousands of rabbits are left homeless every year as a result of a “back yard breeding” conduct experiment gone incorrect.
Get Rich with Rabbits?
Most serious rabbit breeders will tell you, if you reflect you will become wealthy breeding bunnies, reflect again. If you are willing to breed rabbits for the like of it, and have the considerable resources and available space to do so successfully, it can be incredibly rewarding.
Experienced rabbit breeders take fantastic pride in the development of new insignia Read more…
Choosing the Right Rabbits for Initially Time Breeding
Choosing the right rabbits to start a new breeding line is essential to its success or failure. Finding healthful, physically sound specimens is the initially step for any breeder just starting out.
Making Sure Your Bunnies are Ready to Mate
When selecting rabbits for breeding the animals should be thoroughly checked for disease, preferably by a excellent vet.
Many does suffer from uterine and ovarian cancers at an early age, and to attempt to breed them could prove disastrous for all involved.Bucks should also be checked too, just to make sure they are disease free and ready to mate.
Inexperienced breeders may consider Read more…
Breeding the Holland Lop, a Beginner’s Guide
For Holland Lop Rabbit Breeding you’ll need separate cages for the buck and the doe. They will happily breed unsupervised if they’re confined together.
You will also need a uncommon cage for the offspring, and a lot of cages if you care to buy them up for meat or appearance.
This can be quite a considerable financial investment to start with…feeders, trays, water bottles etc. You’ll also need a nestbox for the doe.
Make a sure your rabbits are free of diseases. Rabbit VD can produce the doe to lose her fur. Make particular your chosen rabbits are well conditioned and in excellent shape. Overweight does have a hard time giving birth. Read more…