To the layperson, wild and domesticated rabbits look identical. Some domestic rabbits are also brown but they look different than the wild ones. Domestic Rabbits. Thus, rabbits innately tend to hide their illnesses and injuries. Lastly, attempts to date the timing of rabbit domestication using genetic methods were clouded by uncertainty in the mutation rate.’ How to Know if Your Rabbit is Pregnant. Sylvilagus includes 13 wild rabbit species, among them the seven types of cottontail. How can you tell the difference between a wild and a domestic rabbit.? How to Tell the Age of a Rabbit. It is certainly not possible to date a rabbit's age down to a particular date or number of years. I'm having so much trouble trying to tell the difference. Therefore, you need to be able to tell a domestic rabbit from a wild rabbit; you would not want to trap a wild rabbit accidentally, as they do not make good pets and should stay in the wild. Rabbits are often seen eating grass, flowers, and vegetables in our gardens. Domestic rabbits, however, belong to the … In the US wild rabbits are Cottontail rabbit (Oryctolagus Sylvilagus) they have visible difference sufficient so that it is relatively easy to tell loose wild rabbit from a released pet rabbit. Domestic VS Wild Rabbits in Southern Ontario, Canada Respecting or neglecting the unique environmental, dietary and psychological needs of a domesticated rabbit versus a wild rabbit can mean life or death (or at the least, quality and/or quantity of life) for that individual rabbit. It is an unfortunate truth that there is no easy way to tell the age of a rabbit. It is certainly not possible to date a rabbit's age down to a particular date or number of years. Of those 30, only 13 live in North and South America. (Pet rabbits are the same species as the wild European Rabbit.) In fact, with a little further investigation, you can likely figure out if a rabbit is very young, a … You’d be forgiven for thinking they all look identical. When trying to figure out if your rabbit is sick, always remember rabbits are at the bottom of the food chain and in the wild the weakest are the first to be preyed upon. How Can I Tell if a Rabbit is Wild or Domesticated? Unless it's a dwarf species, domestic rabbits get much larger than wild rabbits. Wild rabbits do not make good pets because they will eventually become "wild", scratching, biting and not wanting to be handled. How can I tell if a loose rabbit in Spain is wild or domestic? You may think they both… The sight of rabbits hopping and playing is a common one for people in rural territories. I want to take him … Unless it's a dwarf species, domestic rabbits get much larger than wild rabbits. It can sometimes be difficult to … However, by looking at some specific clues, you should be able to determine if the rabbit is young (birth to adolescence), adult, or elderly. "We observed three profound differences between the brains of wild and domestic rabbits," says Irene Brusini, first author and Ph.D. student … Cottontails or wild rabbits consist of 30 recognized species. Cottontail rabbits, pros at life on the streets, only live for about 1-3 years. If you need to find a new home for your pet rabbit, please take him or her to a local animal shelter or rabbit protection group, such as the House Rabbit Society . Although domestic and wild rabbits share similarities in appearance, the two are very different. I don't have any experience with native spanish rabbits. How can I tell if a loose rabbit in Spain is wild or domestic? I don't have any experience with native spanish rabbits. The only way to tell for sure if a pet rabbit is male or female is to examine its genitalia. So, it makes sense that you'd want to know how to tell if a rabbit is wild or domestic. It is an unfortunate truth that there is no easy way to tell the age of a rabbit. I've seen wild rabbits before but the rabbit that I saw looked WAY WAY WAY DIFFERENT from the wild rabbits that i've seen in my state (Connecticut). You may also need to catch a domestic rabbit in the wild that someone has abandoned, as domestic rabbits are not equipped to survive on their own. Despite this, there is a range of differences. I found a rabbit in my boyfriend's yard and I have been looking up internet articles on how to tell a domesticated rabbit from a wild rabbit. There's a rabbit in my garden & I dont know what to do. Domesticated rabbits are used to having rabbit food and timothy hay provided for them, and may not be able to find food on their own. Rabbits are wonderful animals that are bred for both companionship and for commercial purposes. Domestic rabbits are from the European Rabbit species. See the related question below for details. Some domestic rabbits are also brown but they look different than the wild ones. (Pet rabbits are the same species as the wild European Rabbit.) America is home to 14 species of wild rabbits, including cottontails, which are classified in either the Lepus or the Sylvilagus genus.