Pygmy Rabbits – Is it too late to Save the Tiniest Bunnies?
There are a number of wild rabbit species in the United States and some are faring far worse than others. One of the most endangered is the Pygmy rabbit. Once upon a time an abundance of these tiny creatures (on average they weigh under a pound) lived in the Great Basin of the United States, but now they have all but disappeared.
Unique and Intelligent but Running out of Food.
The Pygmy rabbit has a couple of traits that set them apart from other wild rabbits in America such as the cottontail or the jack rabbit other than being the smallest. They are the only species who dig and live in burrows and they have been observed to be very vocal, giving out what seem to be alarm calls to one another.
90% of the Pygmy rabbit’s diet consists of sagebrush leaves and they use the bushes as cover from predators. The destruction of large tracts of sagebrush is what most animal conservationists blame for the Pygmy rabbits decline.
Trying to Restore a Wild Species in Captivity
The Oregon Zoo has for the past several years been the home of a program that is trying to breed Pygmy rabbits in captivity, in the hop that they can eventually be returned to the wild. They have had some successes and a number of pygmy rabbits have been returned to the wild in Central Washington. The programs funding may be cut at the end of the year however, and some zoo personnel fear that should that happen there are still far from enough pygmy rabbits back out among the remaining sagebrushes for their species to survive,
So, you have had your adorable, cuddly bunny for several months, and all of a sudden your bundle of fluff has become the Demon Rabbit.
The average rabbit is a naturally very curious and fun loving little animal. To be truly happy and healthy your bunnies need mental exercise as well as physical. If your rabbit has no outlet for fun he can become bored and overweight, depressed even. Toys should always be provided.
If you intend to keep a rabbit in the house your home will certainly need a little bunny – proofing. Here are a few of the steps you can take to help ensure the safety of both your rabbit and your possessions.
Finding a good vet for your rabbit is important, and it is even more important that you have one in mind before your bunny falls ill. The vet you used to take your cat to might have been great with Fluffy, but what does he know about rabbits?
It’s not always wise to believe everything you read or hear about the business of raising and keeping rabbits, either as a pet or to breed. Many of the old wives tales are easy to spot as false, but there are a few that persist that can be downright detrimental to your rabbit’s health and wellbeing. Here are a few of the biggest out there, and the truth behind the myth:
For the inexperienced, the way a mother rabbit behaves around her kits may seem unusual, and they believe there is a problem. However, in most cases this is not true.
As the weather in many parts of the world heats up, it is a good time to give a little thought to keeping your rabbit cool, especially if they spend a good deal of time outdoors. A wild rabbit is free to go wherever it wants, so can seek out shade or heat as they see fit. A pet bunny’s environment is controlled solely by the owner, so your bunny is depending on you to make sure they don’t get overheated.
Sorry Bugs, it takes more than carrots to keep a rabbit in top form. When it comes to feeding and diet, a rabbit’s fairly sensitive digestive system has to be taken into account. A few tips;
When it comes to feeding time, rabbits are notoriously messy. Many knock over their feeding bowls, spilling food all over the cage floor, or gnaw there way through their water bottles. Here are a few great products that make feeding and watering your bunny a little bit easier and cleaner;