There is not always enough food to go around, so many, unfortunately, suffer from a lack of food and are unable to survive. Wild rabbits are a major prey animal for hawks, snakes, and coyotes. But dogs, cats and raccoons are also predators in neighborhood settings.
They are also more likely to come into contact with parasites that transmit diseases. Wild rabbits in neighborhoods are sometimes poisoned by fertilizers and pesticides that people use on their lawns and gardens sometimes purposefully, sometimes accidental. And in forested areas, rabbits are also hunted for meat by humans. In most areas, rabbits will have enough food and resources to go around during the spring and summer months, but the scarcity of resources in the winter usually reduces the rabbit population significantly.
The extreme temperatures can also be difficult for rabbits to survive. Especially in climates where it gets very cold in the winter or very hot in the summer. Domestic rabbits are lucky enough to have indoor temperatures that never go to the extreme. Wild rabbits are able to live much longer in captivity.
In fact, the oldest rabbit ever was a wild Australian rabbit that was raised as a pet. Other wild rabbits that were raised in captivity have lived to years old. Like with dogs, the breed of rabbit also influences their life expectancy.
Mixed breeds, in particular, tend to be more long-lived than pure bred rabbits. There is never a guarantee that your rabbit will live to a certain age, but they can also surpass all expectations. Large rabbits are bunnies that weigh in at around 8 pounds and greater. They tend to be gentler and have more puppy dog personalities. Medium rabbits weigh between 5 and 8 pounds, while small rabbits are less than 5 pounds.
And, in my experience, tiny rabbits tend to have the spunkiest personalities. In general, very large and very small rabbits have a shorter life expectancy than those in the middle. House Rabbit Society. Get tips for what to do if your rabbit gets sick and you can't get to the vet. Close Main Navigation Menu. Sign Up Log In. Hide Saved searches. Mary E. Myth 1: Rabbits are great, low-maintenance pets. Their quarters need daily leaning, and fresh food and water must be offered daily, including a salad of well-washed, dark-green leafy vegetables.
Certain rabbit health problems can become chronic and can require regular and sometimes expensive veterinary treatment. To complicate the picture, veterinarians skilled in rabbit medicine are often hard to find. Myth 2: Rabbits only live a year or two, so no long commitment is necessary Reality: Well cared-for indoor rabbits can live years, and some live into their teens. How to stop a kitten from biting once and for all. Can dogs eat turkey?
Be careful this Thanksgiving. Why do cats knead and is this behavior normal? Do dogs really need pampering or are you going overboard? Why is your hamster shaking? When you should be worried. How to stop or reduce excess shedding in your dog. Can you give a dog Benadryl? Overall, rabbits are living longer these days thanks to a combination of specially trained veterinarians and better knowledge of how rabbits should live and what they should eat.
Many of the tips to help your rabbit live a long life fall into four important areas:. Rabbits need a high-fiber diet full of leafy greens like endive and kale. Treats should be given sparingly and think twice before you grab a colorful box in the grocery store. Tim Patino, president of the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, recommends mint, or a slice of carrot or fruit as an occasional treat.
Housing: A rabbit-proofed room or a large pen is a must-have. Pierce recommends a square-foot pen, but notes that rabbits should still have plenty of time to be active outside of the pen—about three or four hours a day. Keeping your rabbit indoors is also key. Keeping rabbits outside is not ideal due to weather conditions and the threat of predators, Charland said.
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