Long Term Rabbit Rescue

Rabbit rescues can take anywhere from a few days to several months.
In many cases, the final one or two rabbits are the most difficult to rescue, and the timeline often depends on the location.

  • The last rabbits tend to be the smartest and know how to hide.

  • Rabbits hiding in thick bushes are especially challenging to rescue.

  • Rabbits living near local streets may only come out early in the morning or late at night.

Preparing for a Long-Term Rabbit Rescue

It is important to be prepared for the long haul when rescuing rabbits.

  • Establish a feeding station with food and water in a safe, quiet location.

  • Have someone monitor rabbit activity daily or every few days.

  • Try to understand when and where the rabbit is most likely to appear.

  • Keep rescue supplies in your car or readily available.

  • Maintain up-to-date contact information for rescue team members.

  • You can create a Private Facebook to share information.

  • You can create a Group Chat on your phone

Importance of the Feeding Station

A feeding station is critical for keeping the rabbit alive and hydrated. It also helps rescuers monitor whether the rabbit is eating, although it is understood that other animals may occasionally access the food.

In one rescue, we worked with an individual who used a wildlife camera to record activity at the feeding station. The camera sent notifications whenever an animal was present. This approach was successfully used during a three-month rescue at a preserve located along the San Francisco Bay.

A duck sitting on a grassy yard next to a pink food dish, with a gray water container nearby, against a wooden fence background.
Open discarded salad container with remnants of salad and bread crumbs, empty white paper plate, and a plastic container on the ground among dry grass and twigs, with a rabbit nearby in a wooded area.

Special Rescue Tools

There are several specialized rescue tools you can add over time to your Rabbit Rescue Tool Kit:

  • Binoculars – Useful for scanning large parklands or open areas from a distance without disturbing rabbits.

  • Night-vision binoculars – Helpful for night rescues or low-light conditions, especially during moonlit hours.

  • Baby monitor – Allows you to monitor a rabbit’s activity without the rabbit seeing or sensing your presence.

  • Pipe inspection camera – Used to safely look inside rabbit burrows or baby tunnels, which can extend several feet underground.

  • Various household items – Common household tools can often be adapted for rescue situations as needed.

rescue kit special tools binoculars, baby monitor
special rescue items night-vision binoculars and pipe inspection camera used to look in rabbit tunnels
A pink blanket with blue and pink butterfly patterns laid on the ground with various tools and supplies on top. Items include a pair of red-handled scissors, black and orange cutters, a small hand saw, a coil of white rope, rolls of string, a plastic strip, a white plastic stick, a bundle of white feathers in a plastic bag, a black and gray bunny plush toy, a white plush toy, a spool of black thread, a coil of drill wire, and some tape.

Using Traps for Difficult Rabbit Rescues

For challenging rabbits that are hard to rescue, a trap may be necessary. Before setting up the trap, create a feeding station nearby. This station will provide food and water for the rabbit and help you observe it in a familiar area. You can use several methods to set up the trap with a string:

  1. Wooden Support: Use a piece of wood held up by a small stick or PVC pipe (see first picture).

  2. Drop Trap: Create a "drop trap" where the PVC pipe supports a small piece of an x-pen or a similar object (see second picture).

  3. Stability: Ensure that the trap components are stable and won't tip over. Use a brace to keep everything upright.

  4. Trigger Mechanism: Attach a string to trigger the trap. A dog leash can also work well for this purpose (see third picture).

  5. Baiting the Trap: Place greens, bananas, or similar treats in the center of the trap, surrounded by x-pens.

Once the trap is set, sit quietly without moving. Rabbits are very alert and can hear or see any movement. Think about your next steps after the trap is triggered, as rabbits are quite intelligent.

Important Considerations:

  1. Rabbit Awareness: Rabbits may retreat if they see the string being pulled.

  2. Scent Detection: They can smell your hand on the trap or x-pens, which might scare them away.

  3. Quick Reactions: If a rabbit senses danger, it may hop back to its entry point after the trap is set. Be ready to move quickly.

Alternative Trap Options:

  • Use a large carrier with the string tied to the door.

  • An x-pen with a door and the string attached can also be effective.

  • You can set up a large x-pen trap and wait for the bunny to enter. Once it does, close off the entry point.

A small outdoor enclosure made of white wire panels, with some sections painted in green and blue, set on dirt ground surrounded by bushes and a large wooden post with a chain attached.
A small outdoor enclosure with a wire mesh and a gate, containing green leafy vegetables, situated on a dirt patch with bushes and dry branches in the background.
A small outdoor area enclosed by a wire fence, with cinder blocks and gravel ground. There is a black wire cage and a white wire cage, with some green plants and weeds growing inside and around them.

Use Cat Traps with Extreme Caution

  • Serious harm can occur if more than one rabbit enters the trap at the same time.

  • Cat traps should ONLY be used when you are certain there is only one rabbit in the area.

  • You must ALWAYS monitor the cat trap at all times to prevent injury to the rabbit or to other animals.

sitting watching the rabbit rescue trap one is a cat rescue trap