Escaping

[FrithFrith]

Hi I’m new here. We think one of my rabbits might have escaped our back garden today. I am so worried. I just wanted to ask for opinions of the likelihood of a rabbit of her size being able to fit under a gate with a gap of about 2 inches? I’ll attach a photo so you can see her size, she’s a continental giant about 9 months old. I’m unsure of her weight but I’ll put a photo of her next to my big boy Frith who is over 8kg. There were no hairs on the bottom of the gate and I can’t see any droppings either. We have another gate within the garden with a fence and this keeps them safe usually but our rabbit Speedy had managed to make a gap by pushing the wire netting aside at one end this morning and was found on the wrong side. We think Nel, the missing bunny may have followed her and got lost. We’ve looked all over the rest of the garden and in the house. She doesn’t usually hide. Any thoughts would be helpful. I am just worried sick.

 

[Omi]

Hello, I'm sorry that this has happened. I can imagine how stressful this is.

Looking at your pics, I would think it unlikely that Nel managed to get under that gap, but I imagine it is possible. I think it's unlikely as she is quite a long bunny, which would make the manoevre more difficult. Also you've found no hairs or droppings around the area.

What is on the other side of the gate?

I really hope she is found soon. Very often bunnies make their own way home. I think if you become more sure that she has escaped, I would make sure that the inner gate and fencing is completely secure and leave the outer door open, so that she can return. Leaving some food out might also be helpful.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[FrithFrith]

She has come back! Thank you for your kind reply. So we’ve got half of our drive way between the two gates and the other half is beyond the outer gate that we think she squeezed under. The inner driveway has a few bits of new shed leaning against the wall and some other bits we’d checked behind and under over and over. We went back out again and found her hopping around on the inner drive about half an hour ago, looking disheveled and dirty. She was soaking wet and has a little cut on her nose and her top lip. I have no idea where she’s been! I tucked her under my coat as she seemed nervous and took her indoors. She’s had a little snooze on me and warmed up now. Omg the sense of relief is overwhelming! Not letting her out of my sight now!!

 

[Omi]

She has come back! Thank you for your kind reply. So we’ve got half of our drive way between the two gates and the other half is beyond the outer gate that we think she squeezed under. The inner driveway has a few bits of new shed leaning against the wall and some other bits we’d checked behind and under over and over. We went back out again and found her hopping around on the inner drive about half an hour ago, looking disheveled and dirty. She was soaking wet and has a little cut on her nose and her top lip. I have no idea where she’s been! I tucked her under my coat as she seemed nervous and took her indoors. She’s had a little snooze on me and warmed up now. Omg the sense of relief is overwhelming! Not letting her out of my sight now!!

Excellent! I'm so pleased and I can imagine how relieved you are.

 

[redmal]

So glad the story has a happy ending!

PS I LOVE Nel's ears!

 

[bunny momma]

I am glad you found her and she is now safe and warm. Bunnies are great at digging. Could she have tunneled under the fence if there is dirt in the area?

 

[Cinnabun14]

Oh, so glad they're back. My girls escaped recently too, and I was a mess. Glad Nel got back, give her an extra pet for me.

Rabbits are like ninjas when it comes to escaping. The smallest holes they can fit through...it's crazy. I've heard that they can go through any hole that's the same size at their head, but I don't know if it's true.

 

[FrithFrith]

I can’t believe I didn’t think to check Nel’s teeth the other day when we found her! I noticed her attempting to eat a carrot tonight and realised she wanted to eat it but couldn’t bite into it. So I sliced it up and hand fed her first and she ate. Then I checked her teeth and from what I could see (with difficulty) I think she has lost her bottom left incisor. I hadn’t seen any problems with her eating until now. I can’t believe I didn’t think to check her teeth when she came back with a grazed lip! I am so worried she’ll have dental complications for life now Will see what the vet says tomorrow. I just have no idea what on earth happened during those hours she was missing.

 

[FrithFrith]

Oh, so glad they're back. My girls escaped recently too, and I was a mess. Glad Nel got back, give her an extra pet for me.

Rabbits are like ninjas when it comes to escaping. The smallest holes they can fit through...it's crazy. I've heard that they can go through any hole that's the same size at their head, but I don't know if it's true.

It is crazy, I’d never have thought Nel could get through such a small gap. I’d have thought our lop Speedy probably could but she’s much smaller. I don’t think Frith would fit, I doubt he’d be bothered to even try. He’s a good boy. The girls are younger though and more adventurous.

 

[FrithFrith]

I am glad you found her and she is now safe and warm. Bunnies are great at digging. Could she have tunneled under the fence if there is dirt in the area?

No it’s all concrete around there. She is a digger though, I have to really watch out for her with that. A couple of weeks ago she dug a hole longer than my arm! She loves to dig and then comes in absolutely filthy! The others don’t bother, Speedy just goes in to check it out but doesn’t dig. Here’s a photo of Speedy in the hole.

 

[bunny momma]

I can’t believe I didn’t think to check Nel’s teeth the other day when we found her! I noticed her attempting to eat a carrot tonight and realised she wanted to eat it but couldn’t bite into it. So I sliced it up and hand fed her first and she ate. Then I checked her teeth and from what I could see (with difficulty) I think she has lost her bottom left incisor. I hadn’t seen any problems with her eating until now. I can’t believe I didn’t think to check her teeth when she came back with a grazed lip! I am so worried she’ll have dental complications for life now Will see what the vet says tomorrow. I just have no idea what on earth happened during those hours she was missing.

Years ago I had a bunny break a top front tooth quite low. Vet gave her pain relief. It grew back with no issues. Sending vibes your escape artist does well too.

Speedy looks very cute in the hole Nel dug. My newest little girl would probably dig a Nel sized hole if she was an outside bunny.

 

[Cinnabun14]

Aw, I love a good diggy bun (in pictures, not in practice!!!) It's scary how fast and deep they can dig!

Hopefully Nel's teeth end up okay. Does she seem to be in any pain?

 

[FrithFrith]

Aw, I love a good diggy bun (in pictures, not in practice!!!) It's scary how fast and deep they can dig!

Hopefully Nel's teeth end up okay. Does she seem to be in any pain?

Hello, teeth are looking good now! I did take her to the vet the next day, they said the bottom incisor had broken off but should grow back. Since then I’ve had a good look and they look absolutely fine now. She’s been eating fine too, so fortunately no long term problems.

 

[Jaelyn]

Hi I’m new here. We think one of my rabbits might have escaped our back garden today. I am so worried. I just wanted to ask for opinions of the likelihood of a rabbit of her size being able to fit under a gate with a gap of about 2 inches? I’ll attach a photo so you can see her size, she’s a continental giant about 9 months old. I’m unsure of her weight but I’ll put a photo of her next to my big boy Frith who is over 8kg. There were no hairs on the bottom of the gate and I can’t see any droppings either. We have another gate within the garden with a fence and this keeps them safe usually but our rabbit Speedy had managed to make a gap by pushing the wire netting aside at one end this morning and was found on the wrong side. We think Nel, the missing bunny may have followed her and got lost. We’ve looked all over the rest of the garden and in the house. She doesn’t usually hide. Any thoughts would be helpful. I am just worried sick.

 

[Cinnabun14]

I'm glad to hear here teeth are okay! It's always scary when rabbits have a potential problem, it can go downhill so fast. But thank goodness Nel bounced back!!!