How do you catch a rabbit?

[Madhouse Pullet]

My mom lives in the country, 1/2 mile is her nearest neighbor. I just found out they've had a pet rabbit around the house for a few weeks. My uncles tried catching it but then it disappeared for a couple weeks (they thought it was coyote food) until my mom spotted it the other day. I tried catching it but when you get within 6ft, it runs & hides. So, my mom left carrots in a bush and that was that.
I plan to go back Wednesday but, I know nothing about rabbits; I'm just worried it wont survive.

So, what can/should I do to lure this bunny? Or what can I do to try and keep it safe while its out there?

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

@Weeg @Fuchsia Any experience with pet rabbits?

 

[sourland]

Use a hav a hart type box trap baited with carrots.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

Use a hav a hart type box trap baited with carrots.

Thank you! Gonna check if they have one. I was also debating on stopping at the neighbor's to find out if its theirs.

 

[Weeg]

I used a live trap to catch Aspen. Bait it with carrots, Aspen was in it in only a couple of hours. Just make sure you check it very often, and don't leave it out overnight. We hid the trap in a hole in a wood pile where she was hiding. This helped a lot so the trap wasn't out in the open looking very trap like.
Good luck!

 

[Weeg]

What do you plan on doing when you catch it? Will you keep him/her or give him/her to a rescue?

Spoiler: Rabbit care tips

If you plan on keeping it, you'll need a large enclosure, not those tiny tight cages that pet stores supply. You'll want to get a large dog X-pen, those give enough space for a rabbit, but if your up for it, free ranging in the house is another great option. Rabbits are litter trainable, so as long as the house is bunny proofed, you should be just fine letting them roam. Unless you have other pets such as cats or dogs. My cats don't mind her too much, rabbits are very territorial, so once she gets to know her new space, she will probably hold her own up against a cat. Dogs on the other hand, it depends. My Labs like her, though she is afraid of them. They leave her alone for the most part.

To setup her new area, since wether or not you decide to free range her, you will need to dedicate her space to an X-pen or room so she can get used to potty training, and her new space. Get her a large cat litter box, the bigger the better. I use a cheep 6$ low sided plastic bin I got at Winco. As long as its very large, and the sides aren't to large, any rectangular bin will work. You can use a covered litter box too, and that will also double as a hiddey house. To setup the litter box, you'll want to fill it with a thin layer (you don't need much litter) of pine pellets, or paper litter are most common. You don't want to use kitty litter since it contains clay, which is toxic if ingested. I use a 40/60 mix of paper litter and pine pellets. Paper on top just for a bit of cushion. You'll then put the hay directly in one side of her litter box. If your rabbit tends to only poop on the side without hay (Aspen does not, she moves it all around the box) then you only have to put litter on that side. Rabbits will mostly poop where they eat hay, so having the hay in the litter box without a hay bag is your best bet.

To potty train her, place all poops outside the box inside her litter box, and wipe up and deodorize the area where she peed. It could take from a few days, to a few weeks to litter train her. As long as your consistent, it should go just fine.

With that in mind, you'll need a hidey house. I don't suggest getting a fabric one until she's potty trained, since cleaning those are a pain. You can get seagrass ones on Amazon, but for potty training I like the large Oxbow woven houses since they don't have a bottom. Then they can't pee or poop in the house, and get it dirty. I used a seagrass house before Aspen was potty trained, and they're impossible to clean. Just found this wooden one without a bottom, and it looks good too! Rabbits like to have two exits in their houses, so keep that in mind when looking. The Oxbow one doesn't have that. You can use a cardboard box as well for short term. Just make sure that it doesn't have any tape or color on it that she might invest. She will eat/chew it up, so any boxes with dye should be avoided.

For feeding and water, a cat water and food dish with a stand is good. It keeps them from spilling it which is a plus. You can also get large cat bowls at Ross Dress for Less, and they have orem fabric hidey houses as well for once she's potty trained.
Don't use a water bottle though, since it can be hard for rabbits to get enough water from those. A large cat water bowl is usually suitable. I use a cat food/water dish in a stand, it holds about 1/2-3/4c of water, and I have to refill it daily.
You'll also need some kind of mat or blanket to cover the floor if its slippery. Rubber mats (Ross Dress for Less) without a lip may be more suitable until she's potty trained. They're easy to clean, and rabbits may decide they like peeing on soft things, so putting blankets down may encourage her not to use the litter box. At least it did for Aspen.
When you choose a rubber mat, keep in mind that if your rabbit is an aggressive chewer, she will destroy any mat or blanket with fibers or weaves she can pull out. Depending on your rabbit, you will probably want blankets or rugs in her area with very tight weaves, and nothing made of seagrass.

Rubber mats that are flush with the floor are probably a good choice. I used a mat with a lip, and it was destroyed by the next day. Something like this would probably be suitable.
Once your bun is potty trained, then reusable puppy pads work great! Thats what I use for Aspens area.

For diet, you'll want to give her high quality rabbit pellets, I use Small Pet Select, at about 1/4c per 4lbs of body weight. You can give her this daily. Along with that, a large handful of organic lettuce mix, spring mix works great, or other greens with each meal. I use carrot tops, radish tops, and then get organic spring mix for the rest of the time. Rabbits can eat most all lettuces other than Iceberg. No cabbage, or spinach either. She will also need unlimited Timothy, Orchard Grass, or other hay other than Alfalfa at all times. Rabbits can go into GI stasis quite easily, and keeping hay available at all time is vital to their health. They will eat a lot of hay, so you may have to replenish it daily.

Toys are also very important. Cardboard cat scratchers make great toys, but you can also get hay twists, wood toys, and other toys at pet stores. You can make your own toys with pinecones, tiny branches tied in a bundle with food grade twine. You can also use small pieces of fire wood soaked in fruit juices as toys. I soaked some plain wood chews from my feed store in mango juice, Aspen loves them!
As for other supplies, you'll also need kitten/cat nail clippers, a rabbit comb, the hair buster comb is great, though its very pricey. Having a basic first aid kit is also important.
Lennon the Bunny does have some good Youtube videos, though I've also heard its not the best source. I love RabbitsOnline for my rabbit questions, they have a great forum with helpful members.
Trying to think of other things I need to include, bunny proofing maybe, but you don't have to worry about that quite yet. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! Sorry for the novel btw.

 

[Weeg]

Additionally, rabbits are very social! You'll probably be surprised once she warms up to you, they're just like cats, but more lovey! Once you get to that point, you'll see why free ranging is a great option. With this in mind, make sure you have time to socialize with her daily, this will also pay off when she becomes the most social rabbit ever, and you end up taking her places with you. Honestly, if you put the time in, rabbits will end up being just like dogs. If you don't have the time to socialize with her, looking on your local shelter page at other rabbits for adoption is always a worthwhile idea, even if your just window shopping. You will have to integrate them just like chickens, though it will probably be harder since rabbits are very territorial. That doesn't mean they can't love each other in the end though!
Also, spaying and neutering. By spaying or neutering him or her, you may be able to reduce the risk of reproductive cancer. Similar situation as dogs. She will also potty train faster, and wont mark their territory as often. Territory marking will look like a few poops here and there, and spaying or neutering can help avoid that.
I think I covered everything this time.

 

[Pierre duck drake]

You could get the rabbit use to you! They are super sweet ones they get to know you!

 

[HKG]

My mom lives in the country, 1/2 mile is her nearest neighbor. I just found out they've had a pet rabbit around the house for a few weeks. My uncles tried catching it but then it disappeared for a couple weeks (they thought it was coyote food) until my mom spotted it the other day. I tried catching it but when you get within 6ft, it runs & hides. So, my mom left carrots in a bush and that was that.
I plan to go back Wednesday but, I know nothing about rabbits; I'm just worried it wont survive.

So, what can/should I do to lure this bunny? Or what can I do to try and keep it safe while its out there?

You should set a live trap by where you see it most often. You can bait the trap with some corn or bird seed. Havahart makes great live traps.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

What do you plan on doing when you catch it? Will you keep him/her or give him/her to a rescue?

Spoiler: Rabbit care tips

If you plan on keeping it, you'll need a large enclosure, not those tiny tight cages that pet stores supply. You'll want to get a large dog X-pen, those give enough space for a rabbit, but if your up for it, free ranging in the house is another great option. Rabbits are litter trainable, so as long as the house is bunny proofed, you should be just fine letting them roam. Unless you have other pets such as cats or dogs. My cats don't mind her too much, rabbits are very territorial, so once she gets to know her new space, she will probably hold her own up against a cat. Dogs on the other hand, it depends. My Labs like her, though she is afraid of them. They leave her alone for the most part.

To setup her new area, since wether or not you decide to free range her, you will need to dedicate her space to an X-pen or room so she can get used to potty training, and her new space. Get her a large cat litter box, the bigger the better. I use a cheep 6$ low sided plastic bin I got at Winco. As long as its very large, and the sides aren't to large, any rectangular bin will work. You can use a covered litter box too, and that will also double as a hiddey house. To setup the litter box, you'll want to fill it with a thin layer (you don't need much litter) of pine pellets, or paper litter are most common. You don't want to use kitty litter since it contains clay, which is toxic if ingested. I use a 40/60 mix of paper litter and pine pellets. Paper on top just for a bit of cushion. You'll then put the hay directly in one side of her litter box. If your rabbit tends to only poop on the side without hay (Aspen does not, she moves it all around the box) then you only have to put litter on that side. Rabbits will mostly poop where they eat hay, so having the hay in the litter box without a hay bag is your best bet.

To potty train her, place all poops outside the box inside her litter box, and wipe up and deodorize the area where she peed. It could take from a few days, to a few weeks to litter train her. As long as your consistent, it should go just fine.

With that in mind, you'll need a hidey house. I don't suggest getting a fabric one until she's potty trained, since cleaning those are a pain. You can get seagrass ones on Amazon, but for potty training I like the large Oxbow woven houses since they don't have a bottom. Then they can't pee or poop in the house, and get it dirty. I used a seagrass house before Aspen was potty trained, and they're impossible to clean. Just found this wooden one without a bottom, and it looks good too! Rabbits like to have two exits in their houses, so keep that in mind when looking. The Oxbow one doesn't have that. You can use a cardboard box as well for short term. Just make sure that it doesn't have any tape or color on it that she might invest. She will eat/chew it up, so any boxes with dye should be avoided.

For feeding and water, a cat water and food dish with a stand is good. It keeps them from spilling it which is a plus. You can also get large cat bowls at Ross Dress for Less, and they have orem fabric hidey houses as well for once she's potty trained.
Don't use a water bottle though, since it can be hard for rabbits to get enough water from those. A large cat water bowl is usually suitable. I use a cat food/water dish in a stand, it holds about 1/2-3/4c of water, and I have to refill it daily.
You'll also need some kind of mat or blanket to cover the floor if its slippery. Rubber mats (Ross Dress for Less) without a lip may be more suitable until she's potty trained. They're easy to clean, and rabbits may decide they like peeing on soft things, so putting blankets down may encourage her not to use the litter box. At least it did for Aspen.
When you choose a rubber mat, keep in mind that if your rabbit is an aggressive chewer, she will destroy any mat or blanket with fibers or weaves she can pull out. Depending on your rabbit, you will probably want blankets or rugs in her area with very tight weaves, and nothing made of seagrass.

Rubber mats that are flush with the floor are probably a good choice. I used a mat with a lip, and it was destroyed by the next day. Something like this would probably be suitable.
Once your bun is potty trained, then reusable puppy pads work great! Thats what I use for Aspens area.

For diet, you'll want to give her high quality rabbit pellets, I use Small Pet Select, at about 1/4c per 4lbs of body weight. You can give her this daily. Along with that, a large handful of organic lettuce mix, spring mix works great, or other greens with each meal. I use carrot tops, radish tops, and then get organic spring mix for the rest of the time. Rabbits can eat most all lettuces other than Iceberg. No cabbage, or spinach either. She will also need unlimited Timothy, Orchard Grass, or other hay other than Alfalfa at all times. Rabbits can go into GI stasis quite easily, and keeping hay available at all time is vital to their health. They will eat a lot of hay, so you may have to replenish it daily.

Toys are also very important. Cardboard cat scratchers make great toys, but you can also get hay twists, wood toys, and other toys at pet stores. You can make your own toys with pinecones, tiny branches tied in a bundle with food grade twine. You can also use small pieces of fire wood soaked in fruit juices as toys. I soaked some plain wood chews from my feed store in mango juice, Aspen loves them!
As for other supplies, you'll also need kitten/cat nail clippers, a rabbit comb, the hair buster comb is great, though its very pricey. Having a basic first aid kit is also important.
Lennon the Bunny does have some good Youtube videos, though I've also heard its not the best source. I love RabbitsOnline for my rabbit questions, they have a great forum with helpful members.
Trying to think of other things I need to include, bunny proofing maybe, but you don't have to worry about that quite yet. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! Sorry for the novel btw.

I was going to take it to a shelter. The area my mom lives has coyotes so, I was mainly trying to ensure its safety. I don't think I could keep one though and my mom doesn't want one