Animals that Start with B - Listed With Pictures, Facts

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Mark Hawthorne: Five Reasons Not To Bring Home A Rabbit For Easter

Easter season is upon us, and it heralds a holiday tradition that has become nearly as popular as hot cross buns and candy-filled baskets: giving pet rabbits to children. Parents may believe a real, live "Easter bunny" is the perfect gift—and many a child may be imploring Mom or Dad for a cuddly, long-eared friend — but bringing home a rabbit for Easter has numerous downsides.

One of the biggest issues is that too many families do not educate themselves about rabbits before bringing one home. When they realize the care these animals take, parents often surrender them to a shelter or abandon them outside, where they will not survive.

Connecticut is among many states that permit the sale of animals such as rabbits from pet stores, and it's become a growing problem since last year, after New York passed a ban on pet stores selling animals, and some of that business shifted here; the law goes into effect in December of this year. New York's ban—as well as similar laws in states such as California, Illinois, Maryland, and Oregon—prohibits the sale of rabbits, puppies, and kittens from a pet store unless the animal comes from a shelter or rescue group.

Before you contemplate bringing home a rabbit, please consider these five reasons for not doing so this Easter.

1. Rabbits are not easy to care for.

Perhaps the most common misconception about domesticated rabbits is that they are a great "starter pet" for children. Given the rabbit's generally docile nature, that's understandable. But rabbits require a lot of extra care, and even veterinarians need special training to treat them. As prey animals, rabbits do not exhibit signs of pain, so rabbit guardians must be keen observers of their bunny's personality and habits to detect the first signs of a health issue. Such symptoms as listlessness or loss of appetite can quickly escalate to a life-threatening situation demanding an immediate visit to a qualified vet. Moreover, rabbits need plenty of room and will not be happy in a cage or backyard hutch. They must also be spayed or neutered, both for their health and to minimize destructive behaviors.

2. Rabbits can live 10 years or more.

Properly cared for, a rabbit can outlive some dogs and cats, which means a decade or more of keeping your bunny happy and healthy. That's wonderful if you are committed to their care, but children often lose interest in rabbits, who require a bit of patience to understand and bond with. A parent who gives their eight-year-old a rabbit could quite easily end up being the animal's full-time responsibility when their child goes away to college.

3. Rabbits love to chew.

In fact, it's their instinct to gnaw on just about everything, from baseboards to your expensive computer cable. That's because their teeth are always growing, and chewing keeps this in check. So, although it's best if they chew timothy hay, count on your bunny to also sample anything within their reach that looks tasty. Your cozy slippers? Very appealing. The little rubber buttons on your TV remote? Delicious! Unlike a puppy, rabbits won't outgrow this behavior. Nearly as strong as their chewing instinct is their desire to dig (remember, rabbits are burrowing animals), so they'll be especially fond of any carpeting you have. As mentioned, getting your rabbit spayed or neutered will help diminish the most destructive of these tendencies.

4. Rabbits need plenty of attention.

And they deserve it. Rabbits are intelligent, affectionate, and highly social animals who delight in being petted and talked to—they will even grind their teeth to express their happiness in the same way a cat will purr. They form strong bonds with humans and love to play, but on their terms, which generally means on the floor, since most rabbits find being lifted or held tightly to be frightening. Children who want to pick up and cuddle their bunny will be disappointed. Rabbits should be treated as a valued member of the family. They might be a "pet" to you, but you are their whole world.

5. Rabbits don't do well around young children.

Rabbits respond best to a calm, quiet environment. This can be frustrating for kids, whose only previous exposure to bunnies is likely popular media, where they are frequently depicted as extroverted, wisecracking protagonists. While rabbits can indeed be outgoing, they are also skittish and physically delicate and will likely kick and struggle when picked up, which can also hurt a child.

Although rabbits are high maintenance, they are remarkable animals and do make wonderful companions. They quickly learn their name, are full of personality, and use a litterbox. Moreover, few experiences with animals are as heartwarming as seeing a rabbit run through the house and perform an acrobatic leap in the air—what bunny lovers have come to call a "binky," a spirited display that is a clear sign the rabbit is happy.

If you still believe a rabbit is right for you and your family, please learn more about their needs and how you can bunny-proof your house or apartment. Then, adopt one (or two) from your local animal shelter or rabbit rescue group, where there are many buns waiting for a loving home. In the meantime, please give your child a stuffed toy rabbit this Easter.

Mark Hawthorne serves on the board of the rabbit rescue nonprofit Save the Buns, based in Stafford Springs, and is the author of "The Way of the Rabbit."

The Morning After: The Rabbit R1 Starts Shipping Next Week

According to Rabbit, the first batch of US pre-orders will ship on March 31. But stay patient, as it'll take a few weeks for the devices to get to their destinations. The company estimates the first R1 orders will be in customers' hands "around April 24."

The Rabbit R1 generated equal amounts of hype and questions regarding next-gen AI hardware and whether it can deliver on the heady demos and press releases. I will say, though, the R1, co-designed by Teenage Engineering, is a pretty piece of tech.

— Mat Smith

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Advocates: Think Again Before Buying Bunnies As Easter Gifts

A bunny previously rescued by the San Diego Humane Society is given a check-up by the center's vet. Courtesy photo

With Easter a little over a week away, animal rescue groups in Southern California are urging people not to buy rabbits as holiday gifts for children.

They say that what begins as a well-meaning gesture often leads to abandoned animals when the novelty wears off and families realize they're not equipped to properly care for the pets.

"Every year, shelters report an influx of rabbits who were bought for Easter and then discarded once their cuteness or novelty wore off," PETA's Catie Cryar told City News Service. "Some of them are bought to put in children's Easter baskets, whereas others are purchased by family photographers to be used as props for Easter photos. Rabbits are reportedly the third most commonly surrendered animals to our nation's shelters, and it's estimated that about 80% of them bought for Easter will die or be abandoned within the first year, so this is a life-and-death issue.

The animal rights group is running a public service announcement on some radio stations and spreading the message on X and other social media accounts that "rabbits are someone, not something," Cryar added. "We also like to remind everyone that adding an animal to the family should come with a lifelong commitment to them. If someone is truly prepared to provide a rabbit with a lifetime of specialized care, the answer is to adopt — not shop."

The Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas says their shelter and others nationwide come across stray bunnies who were abandoned by families that adopted them for Easter. RCHS spokesman John Van Zante told Fox5 San Diego that many families also buy pet chicks this time of year.

"A chick that is half fluff and half feathers isn't very attractive," he told the station. "And then it starts acting like a chicken. It becomes a pecking, pooping machine with just one purpose — to become an adult hen or rooster. If you don't want an adult chicken living in your house or yard, don't get a baby chick."

Instead of a live animal, rescue groups recommend buying a stuffed toy bunny or chocolate candy rabbit for kids' Easter baskets.

Nina Thompson, director of public relations for the San Diego Humane Society, told CNS that the SDHS "does not have data to support that there is an influx of rabbits coming in after Easter."

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Nevertheless, "because each pet adoption is based on a detailed consultation with an adoptions counselor to ensure it is a good fit for both the animal and the person, we would not caution adopting a rabbit due to the time of year."

"Our staff at San Diego Humane Society will assist folks interested in adopting a rabbit to learn all they need to know to have a happy, harmonious relationship with their new furry friend. Part of that discussion is how long an animal is expected to live, proper nutrition and housing, and the commitment it takes to ensure they live a healthy and happy life," Thompson added.

More information can be found at sdhumane.Org/about-us/news- center/stories/rabbit-care.Html.

Retail sales of rabbits, dogs and cats are prohibited in California, but direct sales are still permitted, including online, and illegal street sales also occur in which baby bunnies are sometimes deceptively marketed as adult "dwarfs."

Rabbits are not low-maintenance pets. They require a specific diet, cleaning and humane indoor housing in a bunny-proofed room, and veterinary care can be expensive, advocates note.

They're also not ideal pets for small children, as they respond best to quiet energy and can be easily spooked by the hyperactivity of a child.

Animal advocates offered a series of basic tips:

— Domestic rabbits should be kept indoors at all times.

— Rabbits need to be spayed or neutered as soon as they're old enough (between four and six months) to avoid unnecessary breeding and to aid their health.

— Once they've been spayed or neutered, bunnies should be paired with a mate who's also been spayed or neutered for lifelong companionship. Single bunnies can be lonely and depressed.

— They should be fed a diet of unlimited timothy hay (or alfalfa hay for rabbits under 6 months), plus a daily portion of leafy greens and limited pellets.

— They should never be kept in cages, as they need room to hop around and exercise their legs.

— They need to be thoroughly groomed every two to three months to remove excess fur and have their nails trimmed.

— They're aggressive chewers, and need to be kept away from electrical cords and anything that can be dangerous if ingested, such as taped or glued boxes.

— Bunnies who stop eating or appear to be in pain can die within 36 hours, and need immediate care from a veterinarian trained in rabbit care.

Those who are prepared to make the 8- to 12-year commitment to caring for one or more bunnies are encouraged to consider adopting from a San Diego County shelter or local rescue group.

More information is available here.

— City News Service

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