SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Humane Society reports mass rabbit hoarding in 2022. The shelter said rabbit hoarding has a significant impact on rabbits living in its environment.
According to the Humane Society, the average rabbit delivery involves up to four rabbits, but shelters have seen some cases involving up to 20 rabbits at one time.
Guin Shuster, director of marketing and communications for the Human Society, says rabbit hoarding is often unintentional.
Rabbit breeding habits increase hoarding potential
Because of their fast-breeding habits, rabbits are easy targets for animal hoarding, but they are unintentional.
Rabbits can start breeding at five months, have a gestation period of just one month, and can give birth to up to 12 pups in one litter.
With that high population growth rate, hoarding is a slippery slope. It can start unintentionally but end with animals suffering from disease, starvation and death.
“Too many rabbits is a real concern for us,” says Shuster.
Rabbits adopted from pet stores and fairs are often not properly sexed, spayed, or neutered, resulting in an uncontrollable amount of offspring.
Why hoarding rabbits is dangerous
Unsterilized rabbits and unsupervised breeding can also increase animal health risks.
Also, separating rabbits from their mothers and litters too early can cause health problems.
“Switching diets at an early age can lead to bone problems,” says Shuster.
Young rabbits can also develop behavioral problems, making them difficult to adopt.
“They can become stressed very easily and be shocked by something they might not have had if they were older.”
Bunny hoarding is common in families overwhelmed by pets, according to Shuster.
best practice
Dr. Schuster recommends that anyone interested in adopting a rabbit use the Humane Society or shelter to have all pets spayed, neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. .
Also, according to Shuster, the Humane Society welcomes people with questions about how to properly care for pet rabbits.
