As we get close to Easter this year, I began wondering why a rabbit is a common symbol for the holiday. And we have already started getting calls from clients that they have found an”abandoned” litter of baby bunnies in their yard.
Wikipedia had some answers to my Easter Bunny questions. In the 1700s, German Lutherans brought the tradition of the “Easter Hare” who was like a rabbit version of Santa Claus that judged children‘s behavior, would dress in clothes, and carry a basket with eggs and candy. Another theory has to do with the prolific reproductive abilities of rabbits to have many offspring, representing a fertility symbol for spring.
As a vet, I do see pet rabbits of all ages. But I don’t recommend “wild” rabbits as pets, which are not the same species as our common domesticated rabbits. Bunnies, like all live pets including dogs and cats, should not be “gifts” for children.
What should you do if find baby bunnies in your yard? There is some great information on http://www.wildrescuetexas.org/. Wild bunnies are prey, so they don’t stay at the nest like a dog or cat might. Mamma bunnies stay away, only coming in a few times a day, generally under cover of darkness, to quickly feed the babies and leave again. So it is perfectly normal NOT to see the momma bunny. Don’t panic, check out the website for tricks to see if babies are OK, and how to check if mom has checked on them. Fun fact, baby rabbits have their eye closed (like dogs and cats also) until they are 10 days old. By 3 and ½ weeks they are weaned, and by 4 to 5 weeks they are ready to go out in the world on their own.
What if your kids want to “see the Easter Bunny”? He will be at the Lewisville Mall (now called Music City Mall, 11am-7 pm every day until Saturday, March 31, and Easter Sunday he will be there noon- 6pm for pictures. http://www.mcmlewisville.com/ The Highland Village annual Easter Egg Hunt at Unity Park was last weekend, March 24. Last weekend was also the Funny Bunny Festival for Lewisville at Railroad Park with a petting zoo, train, egg hunts and pictures with the Easter Bunny.
There is a new event this weekend called Fido Fest 2018 at Westchester Park in Flower Mound, Saturday March 31, from 10 am to 1 pm. There will be a dog walk, contests, activities, vendors, and entertainment. Admission is free, dogs are welcome, but some activities have fees. For more info, HumaneTomorrow.org/FidoFest.
For more Bunny information:
http://www.wildrescuetexas.org/
https://www.greensourcedfw.org/articles/north-texas-wild-dallas-rehabber-wild-rabbit-rescues-multiply-spring
