I have told my wife that rabbits can scream. I have had my rabbits in the back yard for a year and a half now and there has not been a sound out of them. She was begining to doubt they could make a noise at all.
Then last night at 4:02 AM we both are waken up by a rabbit screaming. I was able to get some pants and ran outside. At that point I realised I forgot anything that would be useful, shoes, club, flashlight, etc. So I just ran to the cages and make some quick circles trying to find anything running away. I was for sure a racoon was trying to get a rabbit. We have a lady down the street the feeds them... Any way, nothing went over the fence and the rabbits calmed down when I came outside. So I went back in and grabbed a flashlight and started to look for footprints and check to make sure there were not any blood or wounds on the rabbits. One of the rabbits was visibly shaken and breaking heavy so I petted he and calmed her down. After about 15 minutes I could not find anything that would lead me to believe there was a cat, racoon, dog, what ever. So I did one last walk around and I found the problem.
There was a massive katydid that was smashed to a pulp in the back of the cage. I suspect what happened is that because it was colder last night the katydid was looking for warmth and started crawling on the sleeping rabbit, who then proceded to freak out and kill her insect attacker. :lol:
The poor doe was fine when I checked her again this morning before work.
I do not think any of my neighbors were awoken by the ordeal but my wife believes me now that a rabbit can SCREAM.
Then last night at 4:02 AM we both are waken up by a rabbit screaming. I was able to get some pants and ran outside. At that point I realised I forgot anything that would be useful, shoes, club, flashlight, etc. So I just ran to the cages and make some quick circles trying to find anything running away. I was for sure a racoon was trying to get a rabbit. We have a lady down the street the feeds them... Any way, nothing went over the fence and the rabbits calmed down when I came outside. So I went back in and grabbed a flashlight and started to look for footprints and check to make sure there were not any blood or wounds on the rabbits. One of the rabbits was visibly shaken and breaking heavy so I petted he and calmed her down. After about 15 minutes I could not find anything that would lead me to believe there was a cat, racoon, dog, what ever. So I did one last walk around and I found the problem.
There was a massive katydid that was smashed to a pulp in the back of the cage. I suspect what happened is that because it was colder last night the katydid was looking for warmth and started crawling on the sleeping rabbit, who then proceded to freak out and kill her insect attacker. :lol:
The poor doe was fine when I checked her again this morning before work.
I do not think any of my neighbors were awoken by the ordeal but my wife believes me now that a rabbit can SCREAM.