How do you catch a rabbit that escaped?

Answer 1

Wild rabbits should not be kept as pets. Healthy wild animals should be left alone. There are domesticated animals in shelters right now waiting to be adopted: if you want a pet, adopt a domestic animal and leave wildlife alone. Injured wild animals should be cared for by a professional, experienced wildlife rehabber. Many people find baby rabbits and think they have been abandoned, when in fact they have not. If you are absolutely sure you've found an abandoned baby rabbit, or an injured rabbit, contact a local authority (such as a wildlife rehabilitation group, or a rabbit rescue group, or a House Rabbit Society chapter, or a humane society, or SPCA, or government animal services agency) -- do not attempt to care for the rabbit on your own.

If you find an abandoned or escaped domestic rabbit, try to capture it immediately. Do not try to contact a local authority first, as the rabbit will likely no longer be there by the time the authorities arrive. When you try to capture the rabbit, be very gentle and calm; do everything possibile to minimize the rabbit's stress -- severe stress can lead to shock and death in a rabbit, and low amounts of stress over time can also lead to illness. Avoid picking up the rabbit and minimize handling: attempt instead to bait a cage and lure a rabbit in; or, try to "herd" a rabbit toward the cage. Throw a towel over the cage once the rabbit is inside to minimize stress. Provide water immediately, and hay if possible. Any other foods (such as high-quality rabbit pellets, fresh greens) should be offered in very small amounts because sudden changes in a rabbit's diet can lead to illness. Contact a local authority (such as a rabbit rescue group, or a House Rabbit Society chapter, or a humane society, or SPCA, or government animal services agency) as soon as possible.

Answer 2

There are many ways to catch your bunny. One way is to follow it until it stops to eat or scratch. Then you grab it gently and put it in the hutch or cage. Another way is to ask your friends or family to help.

More Info: Don't try to catch a wild bunny! Wild animals should be left alone. If you catch and tame a wild rabbit, it will still never be happy or satisfied with its life because it isn't really domesticated. There are plenty of pet rabbits for you to get: in fact, pet rabbits in many areas are overpopulated. Instead of catching a wild rabbit, and letting your local shelter kill pet rabbits because there's no space for them, how about saving a rabbit that needs you? Wild rabbits don't need you: they're a part of nature.

Anyway, if you try and catch a wild rabbit, most likely all you'll succeed at doing is injuring the rabbit and maybe yourself. Leave nature well enough alone!

If the bunny in your backyard is domestic (escaped, or abandoned by someone), then you should try to catch it. Pet rabbits aren't adapted to your area, and they don't know how to care for themselves.

What you should do is tempt the rabbit with treats. You could buy some rabbit pellets (which you'll need anyway, if you succeed in trapping it), or you could use pieces of carrot or fruit (but not too much, because you'll only make it sick). Try to herd the rabbit toward where you want it to go, instead of picking it up. If you try to pick it up, it may well panic and run away. Get a friend to help you: try and surround it with exercise pen Fencing, or you can both hold a sheet and try to herd it toward your back door.

Call a local rabbit rescue organisation for help (like a House Rabbit Society chapter). See the related questions and links below for info.

Answer 3

whern my rabbit escaped my dog came out and my rabbit stopped *immediately* and let me get it.

Answer 4

You don't! They are wild animals, and could have disease! Plus, if you take them out of their habitat, they can die!