IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Local animal advocates and rescue groups in Idaho are issuing an urgent warning to families this week as Easter Sunday approaches: A live rabbit, chick, or duckling is a decade-long commitment, not a holiday toy.
The annual tradition of placing live animals in Easter baskets often leads to a surge in abandoned pets once the novelty wears off. Experts note that while these animals appear low-maintenance, they require specialized care that many households are unprepared to provide.
“The problem is that if you see them at the store, they’re tiny little cute little bunnies and people don’t think about it. It’s a spur of the moment. They see the bunny and they buy it,” said Karin Manery, owner and founder of East Idaho Bunnies and Friends. “It’s cheap. They’re 25, $30. So it’s not a big commitment. They get a tiny little cage with them that’s usually sold at the pet store. And then when they are at home, they notice that bunnies are a lot of commitment. They’re first of all, a long term commitment. They live 10 to 12 years.”
Rabbits require a specific diet of timothy hay and fresh vegetables. Beyond environmental needs, Manery said the daily maintenance is often underestimated by new owners. “One bunny… think about it, up to 300 little poops a day. That’s a lot to clean up. It’s daily.”
Chicks present a similar, often more fragile, challenge for families. “I think they are even worse because they are so fragile and they’re so tiny and they’re even cheaper to buy,” Manery said. “They need the right temperature, they need the right food, and they grow up really, really fast. So I think a lot of those tiny little chicks, they die fast. Unfortunately, people are just not prepared.”
A common and dangerous misconception is that a domesticated rabbit can be “returned to nature” if a family can no longer care for it. Jenean Hammer-Huber, director of Save A Bun Rabbit Rescue, said “Domesticated rabbits and wild rabbits in the state of Idaho… actually have a chromosome that is different than a domestic rabbit,” Hammer-Huber said. “So cottontails and domesticated rabbits cannot breed… some people think that domesticated rabbits can live just like cottontails can. And that is not true.”
The legal status of rabbits in the state also impacts how they are treated when families grow tired of them. “In the state of Idaho, rabbits are not only deemed livestock, but also they put a little slash behind that and deem them, as, kind of nuisance animals,” Hammer-Huber said. “That opens up the ability to allow people to, hurt them or not provide proper care for them… that just allows them to just be treated like trash.”
To prevent this cycle of abandonment, advocates suggest parents buy stuffed animals or chocolate treats for Easter morning. For those serious about ownership, Manery suggests a different route. “If you’re not sure if a bunny is right for you, you can foster one. That would be, would be ideal, actually, that would help us out and the bunnies.”
How to Help or Adopt:
East Idaho Bunnies and Friends To learn more about fostering or adoption in the Idaho Falls area, visit their Facebook page.
Save A Bun Rabbit Rescue For adoption applications, educational resources, or to donate, visit www.saveabunrabbitrescue.org or follow @saveabunrabbitrescue on Facebook.
Donations: Venmo @saveabunrabbitrescue
Email: Saveabunrabbitrescue@gmail.com
