Black rabbits

[fluff11]

whilst out the other evening we came across a black rabbit in the field,it was quite happy,scampering around with the others,has any one else encountered them?

[danthekeeper]

In the last 6 years I have only seen 2 black rabbits on this estate we are so far out in the sticks I would doubt that they were released so I can only conclude that they are just an anomaly all be it a rather nice one.

[Jenny W]

They seem to be quite common in some areas but not in others. I used to live in East Yorkshire and they were everywhere around where I lived, but I haven't seen many since moving away from there and living in several other places. I'm sure I have seen one or two in Scotland as well, but I can't remember where.

[davecatt]

I've come across black rabbits in the wild occasionally and was once told by the local Vet that its to do with excessive dark pigmentation which affects the skin as well as the hair or in case of birds the feathers. The pigment is called melanin hence the name Melanistic being applied to any creature with this colouring mutation. I once saw a totally black Roe deer in the wild and have heard of Melanistic Red deer and pheasants.
Dave

[danthekeeper]

I'm not sure but I think that people refer to some pheasants as melanistic but the truth is that they are just a cross breed obviously this is not the case in wild animals and it certainly explains the occurrence of black rabbits

[snake]

We have plenty of black rabbits on my patch, I see quite a few every year.
This year we had one earth with six of the little guys running about.

[Grace93]

Black rabbits were rabbits that were realeased into the wild. Luckily, they managed to survive and continue to breed.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Grace93

Black rabbits were rabbits that were realeased into the wild. Luckily, they managed to survive and continue to breed.

All Rabbits (in Britain) are Rabbits whose ancestors were originally introduced into the wild

Black Rabbits have been around for centuries, and their fur was originally valued more highly than the 'standard' Rabbit colour. Some of today's black Rabbits may well be recently released pets, but it is just as likely that they derive from long-wild animals.

henrya

[danthekeeper]

Originally Posted by Grace93

Black rabbits were rabbits that were realeased into the wild. Luckily, they managed to survive and continue to breed.

This may be the case in some instances but I don't understand how after all this time I have only seen 2 both in different areas on the estate given that we do not cull the ones we have seen why are there not more of them and why would they just appear it is also worth adding that the ones I have seen are where their is no public access

[Grace93]

Oh sorry guys, I never knew you could get black rabbits from a chestnut agouti x chestnut agouti breeding, (I keep agouti rabbits myself). Usually you will just get agouti. I have known people to just let their rabbits off in the wild, not giving a toss. The rabbits manage and survive, and breed.

I guess it could be both