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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2012 20:52:55 GMT -5
Do I need to do anything to wild baby rabbits? Do I need to gut them or remove any organs? Do I just need to freeze them? How long to I freeze them for?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2012 21:28:40 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2012 22:34:59 GMT -5
Wow, I didnt know that Kim! I was going to suggest the normal 2-3 week deep freeze. Scary stuff  |
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Post by Heather on Apr 15, 2012 22:48:22 GMT -5
If the rabbit's infected you throw it out. Totally contaminated. According to some old timers, it only happens certain years. I don't know if that's true or not. Always check the livers, that's where the infections start.
ciao
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Post by Sherry on Apr 15, 2012 23:06:21 GMT -5
Wow! Had no idea  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2012 23:37:00 GMT -5
I am skittish about feeding wild prey since I've seen quite a bit of disease when doing wildlife rehab work. tularemia can be present in MANY species - mice, rats, squirrels raccoons, voles, beaver, rabbit, weasel, skunk, fox...... Here's a good page regarding tularemia and wildlif disease in general. zoologix.com/rodent/Datasheets/Tularemia.htmMore info. ..... F. tularensis can survive for long periods of time in arthropod vectors and in the environment. Individual flies may carry the organism for 2 weeks and ticks throughout their lifetimes. Viable bacteria can also be found for weeks to months in the carcasses and hides of infected animals and in fomites including grain dust, straw, water, soil and bedbugs. This organism is highly resistant to freezing; live organisms have been found after 3 years in rabbit meat stored at -15° C. F. tularensis has been weaponized. Source = www.state.nj.us/agriculture/divisions/ah/diseases/tularemia.html-jennifer |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2012 7:43:24 GMT -5
They are already in the freezer but I will definitely check their livers. If the livers looks OK then is it OK to feed?
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Post by Heather on Apr 16, 2012 11:07:40 GMT -5
Most definitely. Let the livers thaw before you pass judgement. You should still be able to see the marks, they will look like little collapsed cysts
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2012 11:09:19 GMT -5
Thanks. Hopefully they are safe to eat.
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Post by ferretlove67 on Apr 25, 2012 23:41:50 GMT -5
Oh my! I hope this is only a concern in wild rabbits? I am not nsure I would even risk it? I'd rather purchase than take the chance? Perhaps, just me and being paranoid now after seeing this thread.  just be careful and if you can i sincerely suggest ordering your rabbit. JMHO  |
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Post by Heather on Apr 26, 2012 12:44:41 GMT -5
I've never heard of it happening in farm rabbits. I had to laugh because the old time hunters refused to hunt rabbit during odd years or even years (I can't remember, I was just a kid when I hunted) but they wouldn't even try it. I had asked about it and one winter the rabbits were so prolific I couldn't believe my father wasn't hunting them...so he shot one, put on gloves and opened it up for me and showed me what to look for. It was really rather gross as those holes are caused by a worm type parasite.
ciao
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