Did a stoat kill my bunnies ?

[camiejullum]

On going out for breakfast time today found both my gorgeous buns lifeless and with horrible injuries to the back of the neck.

They lived 'free range' in our fully enclosed garden ( but this does back onto a field ) they had a hutch for shelter to come and go as they pleased.

They have lived happily this way for over 2 years and I'm in shock this has happened. I don't know for sure it was a stoat but I can't find any other explanation for it, the injuries were pretty vicious.

There is no way a dog could get in, and cats have never come near.

So so sad for my poor babies they were just the sweetest

Has this happened to anyone else ?

[AnduinsGirl]

Very possibly - I don't want to sound dickish, but did you lock up the hutch at night? Real;y really sorry though - it's just awful when these things happen - I've had the same with chickens and a fox :(

[Pipandmum]

Fox? That's what we have here but are so well fed they walk straight past my (in an enclosed run) rabbits.

[purpleme12]

Surely it's more likely to be a fox? This sounds awful I'm so sorry

[custardbear]

Fluffy squidgy bunnies = bottom of the food chain - lock them away or get a predator proof solution
Sorry for your loss

[Gabrielknight]

More likely a fox. Sorry for your loss

[bunnygeek]

So sorry :(

It could have been stoat, fox, weasel or even badgers can attack pet buns.

This is unfortunately why free-ranging unsupervised is no longer recommended. As much as the buns love it, its just not safe for them, predators are everywhere and can also include other humans. I live in a very urban place and have a fox that lives in the shed at the end of my garden, with the buns in a very solid shed/aviary near the house.

[Bluntness100]

More likely a mink. Do you have water near by, a stream or something?

[bunnygeek]

Polecat or feral Ferret could also be the culprit :*(

Even birds can be a risk including owls, magpies, crows, buzzards and red kites.

[TroysMammy]

Wouldn't a stoat or weasel drag them off to eat? I've heard foxes kill for the hell of it.

[Bluntness100]

Minks are the only animal that kill for sport and they decapitate, or attempt to. As said, my guess here is this was a mink. They are surprisingly common. The fact they were killed via injuries to the back of the neck and not taken for food, indicates mink strongly. Other animals eat their prey.

Were the bunnies basically lined or piled up,

[camiejullum]

Thanks for your replies

I have only just been able to return to the thread as I have been so upset and feeling so guilty for them not been locked away. I have kept bunnies for a total of 10 years this way and nothing like this has happened before - which is probably very naive of me, I see that now - and why I'm feeling so guilty.

We have a river about a mile away from us so not sure if that means it could be a mink or not ? But one of them was as described, nearly decapitated from injuries and not killed for food. Both of them had been dragged down the side of the house, (I know this as it's an area they never go down) and left there.

I feel so so bad for letting them down and know I can never keep rabbits again. Everyone is telling me to feel better as they did have a truly lovely life roaming free here and not stuck in a hutch for 24 hours a day like some poor buns are, but at the moment I can only recall the vicious way they died and I could have possibly prevented it

[Riv12345]

Camiejullum

Only just seen your thread,
My bunnie has free range in garden, hubby got up from work one morning heard an owl and a screech , bunnie was gone!!
We reacon an owl took him or a bird of prey.

I feel awful , I think if I got him in that night he might still be here, he was only 6 months old

[Riv12345]

I have also kept bunnies for the last 15 years, all free range!!

Now my remaining little boy goes in his hutch every night

[PrimeroseHillAnnie]

Fox 🦊

[Riv12345]

A fox couldn't get into my garden

[Bimbop5]

My bunnies were killed by a mink this morning. Both were viciously attacked, one in the back of the neck and one in her chest. I took them in for a postmortem and the Vet said he highly suspected a mink or from that family. I had just set up my webcam inthe yard to see and we saw it come back to try to get my other pets. They are all indoors now until we trap it and protect the hutches better. They were living in a large dog kennel with cedar roof. They were positioned in the same way and I feel so sick about it and ao very sad that I should have protected them better. I feel your pain. Im so sorry.

[Honeyroar]

We’ve had a fair few hens killed in similar circumstances and it was a weasel.

Don’t torture yourself OP. Other than that night they had a great life with you.