If you release an animal kept in captivity all its life into the?

Question

wild will it know to fend for itself?

I have a rabbit that has been in captivity for 2 years. I feel bad for her so I want to release her in a wooded and grassy area so that she can maybe be happier. But will she be able to adapt well in order to survive?

What do you think?

Answer 1

i suppose you dumped your dog/cat/pet when you tired of them too.

Answer 2

Your rabbit would be much happier in a rabbit run, trust me. Otherwise she can get diseases that will kill her, will be prey for other animals, and may not be able to get suitable nutrients that are important to survive. If you have a good garden with grass and space buy or build a run. they are simple to build as my dad and i have built many for people. Make sure it cannot dig under and escape from the run.

Answer 3

it will die  

Answer 4

I would say that it will take some getting use to but she will because that's animals instincts to survive. Just let her go in a safe place... after that... it's kinda the survival of the fittest! Sorry!

Answer 5

I don't think the animal would know what to do if you just left it out there alone. you need to take it out in the woods a llittle further each day until he or she gets use to it. teach her to eat whats out there, instinct will kick in after a while ;mabe you need to build her a brush house and let her hide in it. teach her the things she'll need to know. then gradually leave her out there until she dosent come back to you. then would be a better time to leave her out there rather than just putting her out like that.  good luck with your little bunny!

Answer 6

No. Unless it's was a wild rabbit to start with, it won't have any chance of surviving in the wild. A fox will get it very quickly, or even dogs running loose. If you don't want it, take it to the SPCA.

Answer 7

Most likely she will become bate, since she has been domesticated and has relied on humans to take care of her. She could die of starvation, or other weather related things. If you don't want to take care of her anymore you may want to put a posting on CL, I'm sure you can find her a good home.  

Answer 8

it would know what danger is but wont know how to defend for itself. you can buy a playpen for your rabbit and put it in the lawn and put your rabbit in the playpen. it will be able to freely graze at the grass but have no harm in sight because its fenced in. you can give her free time daily and without danger

do not free captive animals, they will die faster and be easy prey for any preditor.

i would also like to mention that domestic rabbits have diffrent colourings than those of the wild. these colourings would make them easily spotted by birds or any other animals with a hungry stomach

Answer 9

no not at all, she will probly die. animals in capitivity are used to being fed having water all the time and being tended too. this is all the rabbit knows if you put it out in the wild it will probly starve to death. Also it doesnt know about protecting itself from enenmies and thats another risk. also it wont know how to build a shelter. if anyone tells you that its animal instincts will kick in their wrong, its just like taking a person that grew up in a rich family and was giving everything and throwing them on the streets. i know you want the rabbit to be happy and feel free(trust me im completly for it) so try giving it a bigger cage maybe or letting it run around in your yard. but letting it go will only ruin it.  

Answer 10

I think something will eat her. unless maybe if she was grown up when you got her. if she knows the ropes of wild life she may have a chance but I think if she was a baby when you got her you may should keep her.

Answer 11

Ask your vet before you do that.  Or, better yet, maybe your local shelter or rescue group would take her in.  

Answer 12

No - it will quickly become prey to other animals - but that's nature.

Answer 13

That is a really bad idea. Rabbits breed very rapidly and it is never a good idea to release a pet. In my community there is rabbit overpopulation (because people released pets) and they are eating people's gardens. It is a really big problem. It could get eaten by a larger animal or hit by a car. If you don't want your rabbit then take it to an animal shelter.  

Answer 14

I agree with most of the people here, leave this things to proffesionals. I dont think it will survive because it has learned it can live off humans so it will not learn how to burrow or to get food for the winter and it has a better chance of surviving with you then it does in the wild.

Answer 15

She will eventually but you can't just suddenly release her after many years of captivity. Make sure the animal is confident and able within the captive surroundings first. Then release the animal but if possible try and make sure you monitor the animal. I would contact your vet.

Rabbits are also prey for many animals and knowing what animals that would target it as prey in your area would be helpful in making the decision.

Answer 16

I would ask someone that works with animals for a living to see wha they think.

But if an animal has been around humans all it's life, it will more than likely NOT do well in the wild since it does not know how to search for food, or defend itself.

Answer 17

No it would die.

Answer 18

First of all, it is illegal to release any domesticated animal into the wild.

Domestic rabbits aren't the products of natural selection, they aren't fit to survive in the wild.  It would lack the experience and instincts to know what to do if it encounters a predator, and wouldn't know how to fend for itself.

Most domestic rabbits are light-colored which doesn't make for good camouflage, and makes them visible to predators.

Your rabbit has probably adapted to its own schedule of feeding, not one that is best for wild rabbits to avoid predators.

If you really think its unhappy indoors, make an outdoor pen for it, and feed it wild grass, but at least it'll be safe from predators/injuries/disease.