How a Stray Curious Rabbit Bunny Hopped Into Our Life: A True Story - What We Learned in First 2 Weeks

Watch Full Video Story

An Early Morning Surprise...

I had a photo shoot scheduled early one morning, so I woke up at dawn to water my plants.

It was a refreshing, breezy and cool morning, unusual for late August in Florida. As I tended to my garden, I glanced to my right and noticed something on the other side of the patio screen. There, peering over the kick plate, was the most beautiful little calico-colored, fluffy rabbit, just staring at me...

A Friendly Encounter

I remembered I had some Timothy hay stored inside, so I grabbed a handful and went back out. The bunny had moved slightly but was still near the patio. I offered the hay, and to my surprise, it hopped over and nibbled some right out of my hand. It seemed somewhat friendly but was definitely cautious. I decided to set up a cage with hay to see if I could gently coax the bunny inside. I offered more food, and as it ate, I realized I could pet it.

Feeling bold, I tried picking it up, scruffing it like I would a kitten. It worked, but the bunny kicked wildly, not scratching, just flailing like I was being attacked with Q-tips, all while making little guinea pig-like noises.

I thought, "I can't let go now, even if it's scared. I have to get it into the cage."

Inside, I set up fresh bottled spring water with a bit of ice, some hay, and a fan to keep it cool. The bunny was safe from predators on our lanai, with food, water, and shelter.

The Search for the Owner

I went on a walkabout, knocking on neighbors' doors to ask if anyone had lost a rabbit. I walked to the end of the block and around the corner, asking anyone I saw, but no one claimed it.

I felt I was getting too far for the bunny to have wandered, so I posted about it on local online lost-and-found pet pages with tens of thousands of members. Despite the reach, I got no responses.

Learning to Care for a Bunny

Over the next few days, I noticed the bunny was healthy but a bit skinny around the hips, suggesting it hadn't eaten much before.

It devoured the Timothy hay, which is supposed to make up 80% of a rabbit's diet, but it refused vegetables like cucumbers, dark green lettuces, romaine, and broccoli.

I bought bunny treats from a pet supermarket, which it loved, though they contained seeds I later read weren't ideal. The bunny went crazy for them, like they were crack, but it mostly stuck to hay and the occasional treat.

I spent nights researching rabbit care and learned some surprising things.

For instance, bunnies don't like being picked up, it makes them feel like prey being snatched by a hawk. This explained why the bunny growled at me every time I tried. I switched to using a towel to gently herd it instead of lifting it, which worked better.

I let it run around the lanai, where it seemed to have the time of its life, and I'd reward it with a treat when it returned to the cage so it didn't feel punished.

A Growing Bond

Around day six, I offered romaine lettuce again, and to my shock, the bunny jerked it out of my hand and scarfed it down.

I learned that 10% of their diet should be leafy greens, with occasional fruits or vegetables like a baby carrot or a small apple slice. I cut up one baby carrot into pieces to make it feel like multiple treats. It started eating greens regularly and grew more relaxed each day.

I let it out to play for 45 minutes to an hour in the morning around 8:00 AM and again at 7:00 PM when it was cooler. The bunny loved running, jumping, and doing "binkies", cute little hops with a kick of its feet.

It would watch birds fly and lizards crawl around the cage, clearly enjoying the garden view.

Protecting the Plants

My garden had aster flowers in 4-inch pots, but the bunny kept bouncing on them and chomping them off. I suspected it was a young rabbit, eager to try new things by nibbling. I'd seen wild cottontail bunnies do the same in my garden, chomping without eating. I quickly moved the flowers out of reach.

The bunny also loved jumping into pots with wild clover, which I'd grown for a wild bunny that had since disappeared. It nibbled the clover happily, so I let it continue.

Then it discovered my miracle fruit plant, a small shrub in a large pot, and started digging, making a mess. I realized I shouldn't encourage this, so I placed a towel in the pot. The bunny still jumped in but stopped digging, content to just sit and chill. Over time, it stopped chomping my plants altogether, simply sniffing and running through them.

A Routine Takes Shape

The bunny's diet became mostly Timothy hay, with 10% greens and occasional treats like hay-based snacks or a small apple piece. I kept hay available all day, topping it off morning and night.

The bunny uses a paper litter, which was safe and kept things clean, as rabbit poop doesn't smell, though their urine does. I avoided pine litter after reading it might be toxic.

A Happy Companion

After playtime, the bunny would lie down or hop back into the cage, signaling it was ready for food.

I'd clean the cage, refresh the water (using two bowls in case one tipped), and give it a "salad" of romaine, spring greens, or a few baby carrot slices.

It even took to parsley and dill after initially refusing them, shredding them like a living paper shredder.

It went wild for dehydrated banana chips, so I gave it half a chip after each play session, staying within the recommended limit.

Over time, the bunny grew calmer and less timid. It started approaching me, sniffing, and letting me pet it before zooming off to explore.

I could see its personality emerging.

A Garden Helper

I've seen videos about using rabbit poop and urine as fertilizer, which makes plants thrive, and I'm excited to try it in my garden.

For now, this little calico bunny has become a delightful part of my routine, teaching me patience and the quirks of rabbit care.

And that's the story of how we got an unexpected bunny.