WHY WE RESCUE

We've had many people ask us why these bunnies need to be rescued when they appear to be thriving. The reality is that they are good at reproducing, so the population is surviving, but the individual rabbits are not thriving. Do you ever notice the abundance of young rabbits in Bunny Rescue? This is likely due to the fact that the lifespan of rabbits left to live outside is drastically lower than it would be if they were properly protected, fed, and cared for. Domestic rabbits on average live up to 10 years, often even to 11-13 years. In the wild, they face many dangers and illnesses. The younger rabbits may be more susceptible to parasitic infestation and illness. Decades of inbreeding also can be detrimental to their immune systems and overall health. So why do the bunnies of Bunny Heaven Sanctuary needed to be rescued? There are many reasons! 

1.
LACK OF NUTRITIOUS
DIET

Okay let's jump into the reasons why the bunnies need to be rescued, starting with lack of proper nutrition! Domestic bunnies require unlimited access to hay or grass (ideally timothy hay). The hay not only provides essential nutrients, but allows the bunnies to wear down their molars, which are constantly growing. Molar overgrowth can cause teeth to poke the gums, causing discomfort, even preventing them from eating altogether. At Bunny Heaven Sanctuary, there is a considerable amount of green grass, but there will be periods of time each year where the grass may be frozen or covered in snow. During those times, they have no access to the most important part of their diet! A proper balanced diet would also include fresh leafy greens and a small amount of nutritious pellets. In the wild, these bunnies have to scavenge for food and water sources. They often eat foods that are too rich like carrots & apples offered by tourists, along with whatever food they can find discarded on the ground or growing on local and potted plants. The bunnies deserve to be rescued so they can be given consistent, healthy food, to improve their overall health, and so they'll never need to be hungry and scavenge for food ever again.

2. PREDATORS

Another reason life for the Bunny Heaven bunnies is not so awesome is the danger of being injured or killed and eaten by predators. Some common predators living in and around Bunny Heaven Sanctuary include bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, osprey, black bears, and raccoons. Though no one likes to talk about it, the bunnies are definitely falling prey to these hungry animals. One resident told a story of how they found a deceased rabbit in pieces under their house. They assumed the bunny had been eaten by a raccoon. We may not see a lot of dead bunnies in town because they are often snatched up and flown or carried into the forest to be eaten, but make no mistake, where there is a food source, predator will come to eat. You might be tempted to shrug this reality off as the circle of life, but remember, these bunnies are not wild. They were placed out in the wild; in danger, by humans. They deserve to live safe and cozy in homes where they will never need to hide from predators; to be safe from tearing teeth, beaks, claws, and talons.

3. CAR DANGER

Another danger of living in the wild, is the risk of being hit by a car. Rabbits are fast, but not always fast enough. We all know people don't always drive as slowly as they ought to. A rabbit's miscalculation of timing combined with a driver not paying attention or driving too fast could result in catastrophic injury or gruesome death. Rescuing the bunnies gets them off the streets and into the safety of homes where they will not ever have to risk the terrifying danger of cars.

4.PARASITES

Living outside exposes rabbits to all kinds of parasites. For example fleas, these drink blood, so a heavy infestation can cause anemia, particularly in younger animals. Fleas also leave very itchy bites all over. Another concerning ectoparasite is ticks. Ticks are more than just creepy blood-suckers. They are infamous for passing on diseases like tularemia. Sometimes when rabbits have a wound & are living outside, flies will lay eggs in the wound which hatch into maggots. We call this "fly strike" & a rabbit who is afflicted will have their tissue literally eaten away by burrowing maggots while they are still alive. In addition to ectoparasites, the bunnies are frequently infected with endoparasites like worms or protozoa. At times they appeared to be healthy when we rescue them, but when silently dealing with a parasitic infection that causes hepatic coccidiosis which is suspected to causing death. We rescue the bunnies, we are able to test for & sometimes treat them for parasites. Living inside will protect them from these parasites, ensuring a more comfortable and healthy life.

5.
LACK OF
VETERINARY CARE

Anyone who has cared for a pet knows that at some point, they will get sick or injured. Common illnesses in bunnies include upper respiratory infections, E. cuniculi, head tilt, and GI stasis. Stasis is an emergency that can be fatal without proper care. The non rescued bunnies out there surely experience the same common illnesses, plus more since they are exposed to disease-causing parasites as well. They may also suffer injuries from getting clipped by a car, a laceration from running under a sharp fence, broken bones, or from being attacked by dogs. Living in the wild, they do not receive veterinary care. If they are injured, they may become easier prey for predators. If they have a serious laceration they may bleed out, or it may become infected, or it may become filled with maggots. If they fall ill, there is no one to take them to the vet, so they will crawl into their burrow to die slowly in discomfort. This is an issue people often don't think about, or wish not to. The reality is, without healthcare when needed, these rabbits will suffer and die, often from treatable illnesses. It is so important that we rescue them so they can get the medical care they need; to prevent so much suffering.

6. RHDV

RHDV stands for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus. It is extremely contagious and deadly. Think it's cute to see all the bunnies hopping around Bunny Heaven Sanctuary? If RHDV2 reaches them, it will be devastating. According to an article on VIN, "Affected rabbits may develop a fever and die within 36 hours. Infected rabbits may appear dull and be reluctant to eat; have congested membranes around the eyes; show signs of nervousness, incoordination or excitement; and/or make paddling movements. They may have trouble breathing. Upon death, they may have a blood-stained, frothy nasal discharge." This is why vaccinating all pet rabbits is important, and another important reason why these rabbits need to be rescued and taken in to a safe home. All rabbits we rescue are placed in a quarantine space for a set period of time, then are vaccinated as soon as possible.

7. EXTERMINATION

You may not think this is an issue now, but it very well could be in the future. In many cases where rabbits are left to reproduce and cause property destruction, cities come to the conclusion that they need to be eliminated. Exterminators are called in. They may poison the bunnies, or capture and kill them. Our goal is to stop the population growth of the bunnies and rescue them before it gets to the point where people decide to kill them.

8. LOVE

Living in the wild, the bunnies may have each other, but they will never get to know the joy and comfort of living inside a home with a gentle hand petting them. Adopted bunnies are surrounded by love. They are welcomed into a family. Rabbit guardians offer tasty and nutritious food, treats, toys, snuggles, and pets. They also keep an eye on them and are able to catch signs of illness early and take them to the vet for care. They all deserve to be loved.