You may want to catch and tame wild rabbits that frequent your garden or enter your property. However, you should know that wild rabbits are not easy to tame, even with a lot of practice. In addition, keeping wild animals is often not permitted by law unless you work with a wildlife rehabilitation center. If you're not sure, check with your local vet to find out what the rules are. However, if you're looking to catch a stray rabbit in an effort to move it to a safer place, here are a few ways that can help tame a stray rabbit.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Getting the Rabbit Used to You
Step 1. Be prepared if the rabbit runs away
Rabbits are naturally preyed animals in the wild, so rabbits tend to be more stressed than other animals. This means that the wild rabbit is more likely to run away if you try to get close to it. Running away to a safe place is a form of self-defense.
Don't try to stop the rabbit from running away. This will only make him more stressed, which can eventually lead to death. Rabbits can have a heart attack or be so shocked that they block their intestines and lead to starvation
Step 2. Lie down with him
To get your rabbit to get used to you and not think you're dangerous, reduce your height when you approach him so you will appear less threatening. If a rabbit approaches you, don't react immediately. Sit still for as long as possible, or even hours. This step will take days of trial and error until the rabbit gets used to it.
Step 3. Avoid smelling like other animals
If you smell like a predatory rabbit, such as a dog or cat, the rabbit won't come near you. Wear freshly washed clothes and wash your hands before leaving the house to make sure you don't smell like other animals.
Step 4. Leave a food trail
When trying to gain the rabbit's trust, leave food out for the rabbit to approach you. These foods include leaves such as arugula, dandelion leaves, and carrot pieces. This will help your rabbit to trust you and make it easier to tame it.
Step 5. Speak quietly
When trying to tame it, talk to the rabbit in a soft, calm, low voice. The rabbit will feel calmer and less threatened.
Never yell at the rabbit or make any noise. The rabbit will run away and hide
Step 6. Deal with the scared rabbit properly
If you accidentally scare him, the rabbit will remain motionless. Rabbits use this reflex to trick predators into thinking they are dead or to help them hide. If your rabbit approaches you in this state, it doesn't like you and doesn't want you to pick it up. The rabbit was really scared.
You may be tempted and can lift it in this catatonic state. However, this was not a good way to help him. Lifting it will most likely shock him even more and cause major problems for the rabbit such as heart attack, shock, and sudden death
Step 7. Avoid lifting the rabbit
If you're still going to lift it, don't lift it too high because rabbits are earth animals. Lifting it can frighten the rabbit very much as well as trigger a heart attack or shock.
You can even cause permanent injury to the rabbit's paw if you pick it up
Part 2 of 2: Using Humane Trap
Step 1. Choose the right trap
If you want to catch the rabbit without holding it, which is a better and less scary option, consider setting up a human trap. Discuss this with the wildlife community or animal welfare foundation to see if they have one. You can also buy traps like these at pet stores.
You can also make a simple box trap using cardboard that closes when the rabbit enters it. To make this kind of trap, attach a cardboard box to a stick, and punch a hole in the cardboard. Then, tie a carrot or other bait to the string and thread it through the hole, then tie it to the stick. When the rabbit enters the box and catches the bait, the strings will pull the stick and the box will fall
Step 2. Place the delicious food in the trap box
To lure the rabbit into the trap, place delicious food in it. Foods that may attract rabbits include carrots, green leaves, or dandelion leaves.
Step 3. Place it in a safe location
If you want your rabbit to approach the trap, place it in a shady, safe place. This will make the rabbit feel safe enough to approach the trap and eat the food you leave behind.
Step 4. Install at the right time
Rabbits are generally most active at sunrise and sunset. So make sure your trap is ready at these times with fresh bait. Be sure to check it after this time has passed to see if you caught it.
Step 5. Move the trap
When you catch it, cover the trap with a blanket so the rabbit feels safe. Pick up the trap and move it to your desired new location for the rabbit, then open the trap to let the rabbit out.
Make sure wherever you take it off, the rabbit is safe. You can check with a wild animal rescue organization or other animal control facility for a suitable location
Warning
- Keeping wild animals, including wild rabbits, is usually illegal. In many places, you can't even "tame" a wild rabbit to legally raise it.
- Never remove a baby rabbit from its nest in nature! This can make them suffer from serious health problems, even death. Less than 10% of baby rabbits can survive if taken from the nest.
