Sadly, rabbit abandonment is all too common. Domestic rabbits are often mistaken for wild ones and left outside, where they cannot survive on their own. If you’ve spotted a rabbit in your neighborhood or yard and aren’t sure what to do, here’s a guide to help you take the right steps.

Step 1: Domestic or Wild?

The first thing to do is figure out whether the rabbit is domestic or wild.

Wild rabbits are usually small, lean, and brownish-gray with upright ears. They’re well-adapted to living outdoors and should not be captured unless they are clearly injured or in danger.
Domestic rabbits come in many colors (white, black, spotted, tan, gray, etc.) and often have distinct features like floppy ears or rounder bodies. Even brown domestic rabbits can be identified by their size, shape, and temperament.

Wild or domestic rabbits? Can you tell the difference? — Can you tell the difference?
**Answers**: #1: Domestic, #2: Wild, #3: Domestic, #4: Wild, #5: Domestic, #6: Wild

⚠️ Important: Domestic rabbits cannot survive outside. They are vulnerable to:

Predators like hawks, dogs, and raccoons
Diseases and parasites such as mites or coccidia
Heatstroke (rabbits tolerate cold better than heat, but neither extreme is safe)
Starvation or dehydration

If the rabbit is domestic, it needs your help.

Step 2: Check the Neighborhood

Sometimes rabbits escape from outdoor enclosures. Before assuming abandonment, ask your neighbors if anyone is missing a rabbit. Unfortunately, “free roaming” rabbits are sometimes intentionally allowed outdoors, but this is not safe or legal.

Step 3: Prepare to Catch the Rabbit

Catching a rabbit can be tricky—they are fast, quiet, and easily startled. Patience and teamwork are key.

What You’ll Need:

Exercise pens (x-pens): Ideally 2–3, three feet tall
Helpers: At least 2–3 people
Food lures: Fresh greens, hay, bananas, or grated carrot
A carrier or crate: Lined with a towel or newspaper for safe transport
Water: Rabbits outdoors are often dehydrated

Best Practices for Catching:

Try early morning or dusk when rabbits are most active.
Place food and water in the area to keep them nearby.
Use x-pens to gently encircle the rabbit, closing off escape routes against a fence or wall if possible.
Move slowly and calmly; stress can harm the rabbit.
If the rabbit is very friendly, you may be able to carefully scoop them up or coax them into a carrier with food.

Tip: Live traps often catch other animals and can stress rabbits. If you use one, check it at least twice daily.

Step 4: Decide Where the Rabbit Will Go

Once caught, the rabbit will need immediate shelter. Check your local jurisdiction to see which shelter accepts rabbits:

In Sacramento County, for example, Front Street Animal Shelter, Bradshaw Animal Shelter, and Elk Grove Animal Services all accept rabbits.
Local rescues may be able to help, but many are full. You’ll have the best chance of placing the rabbit if you:
1. Offer to foster temporarily
2. Offer a donation to help with care

Keep in mind that spay/neuter, vaccinations, and basic medical care for a single rabbit can cost $500 or more. Many abandoned rabbits also arrive sick or injured, adding to the expense.

Step 5: Provide Short-Term Care

Until the rabbit can be taken to a shelter or rescue:

Keep them indoors in a safe, quiet space
Offer unlimited fresh hay, fresh water, and leafy greens (avoid iceberg lettuce)
Avoid exposing them to extreme heat or outdoor predators
Check out houserabbit.org for resources on basic rabbit care

Step 6: Spread Awareness

Rabbit abandonment is sadly common. By rescuing a rabbit and sharing their story, you help raise awareness that domestic rabbits:

Belong indoors as family pets
Must be spayed or neutered
Deserve the same compassion as cats and dogs

Bunnies make wonderful companions, but they cannot survive on their own outside.

Thank you for caring! By stepping in, you may be saving a life.

What to do if you find a stray rabbit