Expert: Stephen Vantassel - 6/11/2007

Question
I came home one day to find a baby rabbit in my old hamster cage. when i asked the couple i live with why it was there, they told me that somebody had brought it to the house after saving it from a cat. It has recovered now. But there is some dispute over whether it is a domestic rabbit or a wild one. I believe it is a wild one as it is browny grey in colour and is extremely nervous and timid. It won't eat dried rabbit food, only grass and dandelions. It can only jump the height of the cage (the cage is about 2 foot tall which i have never seen domestic rabbits do.
the couple I live with on the other hand, believe it is a domestic rabbit and that it must have been brought up on fresh veg by it's previous owner and that it must have had a tall run for it to jump about in to be able to jump that high. They say it is tame as they handled it with no problem on the day it was brought to them as though it has been handled before (i think it was because it was in shock from the cat attack)
They are wanting me to look after it and get it a hutch. I think it is a wild baby rabbit though and don't believe it should be kept in a cage. They refuse to believe it is a wild rabbit and won't allow me to release it back into the wild. I think it is a wild rabbit and the cat caught it from behind the back gardens as behind our back gardens is loads of fields and forestry. What should i do and how can i convince them that it really is a wild one.
Or am i wrong? How can we tell the difference between wild and domestic rabbits?
Please can you offer me some help as it is still in the hamster cage (it is quite big, but not big enough for a young rabbit)and i can't stand to see it looking so depressed. what should i do? thanks for your time  

Answer
Well, if it is a wild rabbit, it could very well be illegal to keep it. It all depends on your state's laws.

Wild animals should be kept wild and many states have mandated that fact by law. It is also dangerous to people who lack training to keep wildlife due to the disease potential and their lack of experience in feeding and caring for wildlife.

As for the cat, free-roaming cats are an ecological menace. For some reason, americans think cats have a right to roam free and ravage wildlife with impunity. Thank god coyotes and fishers are beginning to correct this problem that humans are unwilling to resolve themeselves. But I digress.

Your first step is to contact the state. http://icwdm.org/agencies/StateAgencies.asp for a list of links.
Second, ask them what to look for. Our site has information on wild rabbits. It should be pretty obvious. Domestic rabbits will be fatter and won't have the characteristics of wild rabbits.  If it is a domestic rabbit isn't it appropriate to look for the owner? He shouldn't be too far away.

third, I don't know your relationship with this couple, parents? landlord? or something else? I am a strong believer in respecting authority even when authority is wrong. What your personal choice should be is unclear to me as I don't know enough about your situation. I suspect you are not an adult. If so then your options are limited.

You can also consult with a wildlife rehabilitator for tips on taking care of a wild rabbit.