New here and have a question already !

jaxcooper · #1 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 08:46 AM

Good morning. I have just returned from taking my daughter to school and on the way home I saw a very small rabbit sitting in the middle of the lane. Realising it wasn't going to move I got out of the car and it just sat there. I picked it up and placed in in the hedgerow but I am worried that this was the wrong thing to do.

I'm new to the countryside and wildlife but I'm sire it's not normal for a wild rabbit to allow such handling?
I was worried about touching it too much in case of human scent etc. It's eyes didn't seem clear... should I go back and find it? What would I do with it once I do???

Help please :-)

vole-woman · #2 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 08:56 AM

It probaby had myxomatosis. I too have found rabbits round here, often very young ones, very dopey and with obviously diseased eyes. Very sad to see. I always leave them alone (though I'd move them if they were in the path of a car) but I wonder whether other WABers would suggest a quick way of dispatching them? I hate walking away and leaving them to suffer.

jaxcooper · #3 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vole-woman

It probaby had myxomatosis. I too have found rabbits round here, often very young ones, very dopey and with obviously diseased eyes. Very sad to see. I always leave them alone (though I'd move them if they were in the path of a car) but I wonder whether other WABers would suggest a quick way of dispatching them? I hate walking away and leaving them to suffer.

Poor little mite! Thanks for the reply. I hadn't even heard of myxomatosis before - If I see it has wandered out again when I go back later I'll take it to a vets, I don't want to leave anything suffering :-(

Thank you.

STYRBJORN · #4 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 09:46 AM

I'll take as read that you wouldn't be able to break its neck, 'tho that is the quickest and cleanest way. Either a heavy stick or stone, or a heavy boot, are the best alternatives. Make sure there is a solid surface under the animal's head, and hit, or stamp on, its head. Do it hard. A single blow will suffice. You really are doing the beast a favour. Mixy is a slow painful death.

Clubbing is acceptable in law, and to the RSPCA, as a method of humane dispatch, but you must do it properly. A single blow to the head will destroy the CNS instantly.

As vole-woman says, the passivity and the clouded eyes are diagnostically symptomatic of myxomatosis. Remember also that if it enters a burrow with unaffected rabbits there is a high risk of transmission. Mixy is prevalent this year because the snowy winter meant that rabbits were huddled together for long periods underground.

Welcome to WAB and lets hope your future with us is a bit more cheerful!

Ric

wizzo · #5 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 09:54 AM

Yes, as Volewoman says, it is most likely Myxomotosis. It's a horrible 'illness' and introduced some years ago, by man I believe! I don't know the exact details but I understand that it was artificially introduced to combat the booming rabbit population. Others on here will know much more about this and whether this is, in fact, accurate. I imagine this young rabbit won't survive for too long as it will more than likely be predated by a fox, or corvid before too long. Wizzo

vole-woman · #6 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 03:06 PM

Is it OK for other animals to eat mixy rabbits?

jaxcooper, I'm so sorry your first post here is such a troubled one. Nature can be very sad, but also really wonderful, and sitting watching rabbits play in the warm evenings (healthy ones, I mean) is a treat.

vole-woman · #7 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 03:08 PM

Thanks for the info, btw, STYRBJORN. I've never been brave enough to kill an animal but I'd like to know how to do it if I should ever really need to.

Cowgirl · #8 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 03:44 PM

I once had to put a rabbit out of its misery & I couldn't find a stick or rock, never thought of the wheel nut lever thingy in the spare wheel. I used a wine bottle (empty) which was lying discarded at the side of the road, it worked. I then got back in the car & bawled my eyes out. Horrible, but it's really the best thing to do.

jaxcooper · #9 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 03:50 PM

Wow, thanks for the info guys. I never thought I'd be saying this but I am thankful for the info on how to end an animals suffering, whether or not I'd have it in me to do it, well, I guess one day I might find out!

I did have a look for it on the way back past earlier on but no sign. Fingers crossed it has a rapid end, I don't like to think of it out there.

Boy I need to toughen up!!

On a lighter note, I have experienced so many beautiful things since moving to the countryside, every day there is something new appearing. I just love it and really look forward to learning a lot from here too :-)

Thanks

Dorts · #10 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 03:51 PM

I agree, that if you feel confident in doing it, the 'mixy' Rabbit would be better off dispatched as humanely as possible.

It's a very unpleasant disease, caused by a virus and spread by the European Rabbit Flea. The symptoms are very similar to syphilis and not at all pleasant.
It was accidently introduced into France in the 20's and is now just about everywhere you find Rabbits, though there will always some individuals that are immune to any outbreak.
Dorts.