Santa
Wise Old Thumper
First, I should probably point out that both bunnies are unharmed (phew!)and are now safely installed in the house while I work out what to do next. But it could have been so very different - so many lessons learnt in one day! I went to work as normal and arrived home to find that the rabbit's aviary had been attacked by a fox. In spite of quite spectacular efforts at ripping off protective plastic, prising off bits of wood, pulling out and breaking bits of mesh, pulling off the runaround tunnel and gnawing at the shed door, they failed to gain access, which I guess at least says something about my attempt at foxproofing! This all happened in broad daylight and we have wild rabbits in the garden, so I had thought that actually a fox probably wouldn't bother with mine when there are others so easily available!
Even if I had let my bunnies use the runaround/extra run unsupervised, I suspect I would now have no rabbits, as the fox had pulled the runaround out of its housing (the internal panel inside the aviary blocking access off was still in place). Lessons for me include (1) Don't leave bunnies unsupervised in ANYTHING that isn't foxproofed...including free range. It's not just free range that puts them at risk (although clearly it does), leaving them in anything unsupervised even if it looks vaguely secure is also a risk. (2) Ensure that all mesh is fixed firmly with nailed in u-nails at very regular intervals. Ideally double mesh, as by ripping off the wood, the fox managed to prise up one corner completely. Fortunately I had double meshed and the fox had failed to get through the second layer. (3) Foxes do and will come out during the day. This must have happened in broad daylight. (4) Don't rely on runaround tunnel fixings being secure especially, as in this case, if you use the ones where the fixings twist round to secure onto the run. I would have thought that the curved clamps on both sides of the tunnel would make it more secure. (5) Don't assume anything about fox behaviour and what they are likely/unlikely to do. Assume the worst and be prepared for it! I'm sure there are other lessons, please add if you think of any.
Here's what the accommodation looked like at the weekend:
And here's what it looks like now...(bunnies are safely installed in our house until I work out what to do!)
Here you can see that various bits of wood have been prised off, including some of the uprights and the board along the bottom. The outer layer of mesh has also been ripped out of its staples. Fortunately, this aviary is double meshed and the inner mesh is fixed with staples and u-nails and they had not managed to get through this.
The runaround tunnel had been attached when I went to work (albeit blocked off on the inside as I don't allow unsupervised use - fortunately!) The two twisty-clips that hold the runaround in place had both worked loose presumably due to lots of yanking and pulling...if you use these, I would suggest buying a couple more of the larger curved bracket pieces and permanently fixing the tube in place with those.
Here you can see where it's scrabbled at the door and tried to break the door in. I think the bolt at the bottom is probably what prevented it from being able to get a grip on the corner and prise it open until the wood snapped. I also have a panel nailed to the inside of the door to provide a secondary layer of protection and to stop the bunnies from legging it when I open the door!
Even if I had let my bunnies use the runaround/extra run unsupervised, I suspect I would now have no rabbits, as the fox had pulled the runaround out of its housing (the internal panel inside the aviary blocking access off was still in place). Lessons for me include (1) Don't leave bunnies unsupervised in ANYTHING that isn't foxproofed...including free range. It's not just free range that puts them at risk (although clearly it does), leaving them in anything unsupervised even if it looks vaguely secure is also a risk. (2) Ensure that all mesh is fixed firmly with nailed in u-nails at very regular intervals. Ideally double mesh, as by ripping off the wood, the fox managed to prise up one corner completely. Fortunately I had double meshed and the fox had failed to get through the second layer. (3) Foxes do and will come out during the day. This must have happened in broad daylight. (4) Don't rely on runaround tunnel fixings being secure especially, as in this case, if you use the ones where the fixings twist round to secure onto the run. I would have thought that the curved clamps on both sides of the tunnel would make it more secure. (5) Don't assume anything about fox behaviour and what they are likely/unlikely to do. Assume the worst and be prepared for it! I'm sure there are other lessons, please add if you think of any.
Here's what the accommodation looked like at the weekend:
And here's what it looks like now...(bunnies are safely installed in our house until I work out what to do!)
Here you can see that various bits of wood have been prised off, including some of the uprights and the board along the bottom. The outer layer of mesh has also been ripped out of its staples. Fortunately, this aviary is double meshed and the inner mesh is fixed with staples and u-nails and they had not managed to get through this.
The runaround tunnel had been attached when I went to work (albeit blocked off on the inside as I don't allow unsupervised use - fortunately!) The two twisty-clips that hold the runaround in place had both worked loose presumably due to lots of yanking and pulling...if you use these, I would suggest buying a couple more of the larger curved bracket pieces and permanently fixing the tube in place with those.
Here you can see where it's scrabbled at the door and tried to break the door in. I think the bolt at the bottom is probably what prevented it from being able to get a grip on the corner and prise it open until the wood snapped. I also have a panel nailed to the inside of the door to provide a secondary layer of protection and to stop the bunnies from legging it when I open the door!