Leaving bunny running around the yard all day

[Pipp]

ec wrote:

Not tobelabor a point, but there are plenty of larger raptors in my area(vultures, even eagles) - which definitely can attack and kill largerprey animals. I'd be willing to bet that you've got some aroundVancouver, too, given the location + large wooded parks in the city...

Yup, one story had a hawk taking a bunny off the balcony of a hi-risenot far away. But certainly not a 10-lbrabbit. Otherwise fewdogs would be safe!

I'm right beside Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks on thecontinent, I have skunks living under my house, squirrels in my ceilingand raccons in the tree in the yard. (Luvabun is a witness,she saw them about two feet away from me on the back porch off RadarandDarry's room. They're there every night on theirwayup to my roof,but they've never paid a wit ofattention to the bunnies, though, or vice-versa, go figure).

Our problem is coyotes, they're brazen b***ers who will snatch a cat ordog right off a leash in well-travelled, very urbanarea.:shock:

ec wrote:

I guess what I'm trying tosay is that, though I agree that we can't control everything inour environments, we can do a lot to make things safer for animals -and small humans - without getting carried away over it. Which is oneof the reasons I really like Marinell Harriman's ideas about large,covered runs/outdoor play area. ...

Absolutely agreed there. I always mentionQuanMyers' operation because it's for a large number of bunnies in an emptylot, but for a small warren, those backyard set-ups reallyarethe right ticket.

I'd love to see Ronnie hang out in something likethat.He'salready out in the yard fourhours a day, he was actually found outside when he was firstadopted. In his particular case -- a rare case -- expandingit by a few mid-day hours isn't criminal.

But Aina really has todo more research and bewellaware of all the hazards mentioned in this thread, from flystrike tovegetation to predators. (Ithink cats anddogsin particular can still beaproblem, afence won't keep out the former and maybe not the latter withoutfortification). She needs to incorporate a lot of Harriman'sand Myers' safety ideas into the exisitng space.

sas

 

[Aina]

I doubt raptors will be a problem. Wehave red tailed hawks, which weigh around two lbs, and sometimesvultures, but not often. In my bird book it said that cartain eagleshad been sighted in my county, but that this is the far reaches oftheir range.

Coyotes are supposed to be around here, but they may be. I'll check into that.

I am more concerned about the small predators like racoons andweasels. I am going to research to see what I can do aboutthem.
We do have fearal cats in our area. I'm not sure how much harm theywill do though, they seem really timid, even if they don't know I amwatching them.
Actually when we had a rabbit a long time ago when we didn'tknow much it ran around the beackyard it actually was friends with atleast two of them. They would groom eachother and everything.

Anyways, I think I am going to see what I can do to make my yard assafe as possible and then let him have run of it. We had toleave him in his cage all the time for a few days and he was absolutlymisrable. He loves his space. I have a run attachedto his cage right now that he can be in all day, but I don't think hethinks that is very much fun.

 

[naturestee]

Aina, just a quick point. I've seenred-tailed hawks kill animals they were too big to carryaway. They would just sit and eat them right there.Those claws are vicious. I've seen them attack full growncats.

Just so you know.

 

[ec]

naturestee, thanks! That's a big part of what Iwas trying to get at in mentioning hawks and other raptors; also otheranimals, but I'm not sure if I made it clear.

There's a shelter down in MD that has a bun with very few toes left,because a predator that was trying to get at him (before rescue) bitthem off. I'm sure the poor little guy was terrified - I sure wouldhave been!

 

[Pipp]

Aina wrote:

Idoubt raptors will be a problem. We have red tailed hawks,which weigh around two lbs, and sometimes vultures, but not often. Inmy bird book it said that cartain eagles had been sighted in my county,but that this is the far reaches of their range.

Coyotes are supposed to be around here, but they may be. I'll check into that.

I am more concerned about the small predators like racoons andweasels. I am going to research to see what I can do aboutthem.
We do have fearal cats in our area. I'm not sure how much harm theywill do though, they seem really timid, even if they don't know I amwatching them.

Aina, where are you located again? (You should put that in your profile).

I'm still haunted by a post on another list by a girl that thoughtbecause the hawks she had seenwere miles away, her bunnieswere safe, but birds of prey can seeGREAT distances andflymiles in a wink. On the plus side,rabbits can see above them and if they're on alert and not in wide openspaces -- they can find cover. The birds can't carry himaway, and if you're in aa populatedneighbourhood,it's unlikely they'llland for a leisurely meal. Butyou have to avoidopen, unprotected space.

Yourphotos I remembered looked pretty lush, butIdon't think the fence I'm seeing in the avatar photo willkeepdetermined predatorsaway,and it looksmore barren than I remember. You pretty much needan obstacle course out there with a lot of cover -- tunnels withseveral exits, platforms, tallthings to interfere with wingspan, etc. (I think I posted a story awhile back aboutacougar (?)chasing a rabbit on golf course, therabbit jumped into a golfers cart, thecougar followed, therabbit hopped off,leavingthe cougar stuck in thecart - with a very surprised golfer! Smartbunny!)

Again, remember that you've had no reason to have seen them sofar,but once you're providing a potential meal, they willcome!



sas

 

[Maureen Las]

My friend in Ill. who traps feral cats forspay/neuter release (she also has 6 indoor rabbits) has seen and heardferal cats attack wild rabbits ..so cats are a problem..evenoutdoor domestics

 

[ec]

Not to knock cats (their nature is what it is), but I'd be very concerned about outdoor cats and bunnies, for obvious reasons.