Do Rabbits Eat Mouse? 5 Deadly Diseases They Can Get!

It will be natural for you to wonder if rabbits will react if they meet a mouse. The main question is, do rabbits eat mouse? Well, the answer is most certainly not!

Rabbits will never attempt to eat a mouse because they are herbivores, which means that they are vegetarians.

You must feed your pet with a significant amount of nutritious meals because the veggies and fruits that they consume are where they get enough energy.

There are forests and other means of food sources for wild bunnies so that they won’t suffer from starvation.

This article will discuss why rabbits do not eat a mouse and the diseases that a rabbit can get from it.

Also, you will be able to learn how to decrease mouse infiltration in the hutch of your furry friend.

So, without any further delays, let us delve right into it!

Diet Of A Rabbit

Rabbits are animals known to be herbivores, and their natural diet is available depending on the season.

For winter, bunnies generally eat seeds, leafy greens, and woody shoots, while in warmer seasons, they love to consume flowers, clover, and grasses.

As a pet owner, you must consider that bunnies need to have high in fiber and low in calories.

They also need to have a lot of hay, their staple food, for a balanced meal plan. Plenty of veggies and fruits are also needed for a fair amount of essential vitamins and minerals that can be lacking from hay and pellets.

 

Reasons Why Rabbits Do Not Eat a Mouse

Do rabbits eat mouse? The issue that rabbits are eating mice is never to occur. please read here do rabbits eat mice

As for the main reason, rabbits are born to be herbivores, which means they do not eat other animals or meat because they would only munch veggies, fruits, and herbs.

In short, plants are the only food that rabbits would dare to ingest.

More so, bunnies’ digestive system is not designed to handle foods that are high in protein and fats.

Rabbits only depend on high fiber foods, and these pets should be given foods that are high in sugar.

Aside from being an herbivore, the instinct of a bunny does not include hunting its prey.

And since bunnies are playful, they will toy at something that they see crawling or will only look at it until it stops moving.

Thumper, my bunny, has encountered a mouse while he was cheerfully hopping towards the kitchen. I saw him chase the mouse away, and the rodent rapidly hid at the back of the cabinet.

When Thumper noticed that the mouse was out of reach, he left and continued hopping around the house.

There is also one fact that rabbits are territorial, so one reaction they may have when they see a mouse is to chase it away.

That is the reason why a rabbit won’t ever eat a mouse and will only ignore its presence.

 

Diseases That Rabbit May Acquire From Mice

Mice are rodents that carry different diseases, and rabbits are very much susceptible to these illnesses.

The bacteria are the main reason why these diseases are dangerous because they can spread quickly to the rabbit’s body and potentially fatal.

These are the diseases that mice carry around and will surely affect your pets at home:

#1. Hantavirus

It can be transmitted to humans and other animals if exposed to the mouse’s urine or droppings.

As another threat, if the mouse’s urine and droppings dry out, it will become dust that, when inhaled, it can lead to respiratory failure in severe cases.

 

#2. Salmonella

One of the most widespread bacteria that we commonly hear about is salmonella found on surfaces and even on food. This bacteria is also known as food poisoning that can be carried by mice if they run around your house.

Other effects of salmonella may also include vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

These are the events you have to watch out for because it might make your bun very sick.

 

#3. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV)

This one is a viral infection that can spread if your rabbit is exposed to fresh droppings, saliva, and urine. An infection like this one can lead to inflammation of meningitis surrounding the spinal cord and brain.

It will have the possibility to lead your bunny into a more severe case like death, and that is something that you want to avoid.

 

#4. Lyme disease

Due to the ticks, parasites, and flies that infest mice, it is only expected to spread unwanted diseases. please read here do rabbits eat mice

Ticks cause Lyme disease, and it is a severe case, for it leaves lasting effects that can make your bunny terminally ill.

This disease is contagious and will surely become a huge problem if you have lots of rabbits.

 

#5. Plague

Another threat that these mice carry is called a plague. Specifically speaking, the bubonic plague is transmitted by mice to humans and animals like rabbits. The fleas can also transmit this disease. learn more here how to get rid of fleas on rabbits

 

Ways To Stop Mice From Infiltrating A Rabbit’s Hutch

Rabbits are healthy in their ways that they can also harm other animals by kicking them. There was also a time when Thumper has an unwanted visitor in its hutch. My bunny was sleeping, and it was the perfect timing for me to take action.

Here are the steps that you can do so that mice won’t infiltrate the hutch:

 

Step #1. Secure underneath the hutch

You have to block the underneath of the hutch as secured as you can.

 

Step #2. Place a trap

Then, put a humane trap on the outside of the hutch. If you use poison, then do not try to put it inside the hutch to avoid things that may harm your rabbit.

That is why you must put it outside, which is out of reach of your furry friend.

 

Step #3. Put the food at the right place

Do not put food on the hutch’s flooring so that the mice won’t be tempted to get inside of it. All you have to do is put it on the elevated part of the hutch in that your bunny can conveniently reach it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a mouse is undoubtedly an unwanted visitor inside a household.

The main question is: Do rabbits eat mouse?

You already know that rabbits won’t eat a mouse, but it will just chase it away if it invades its territory.

Though bunnies won’t eat mice or even rats, these rodents can pass diseases that can harm your pet. please read here do rats eat rabbit

Keep in mind that mice’s rapid motion can cause your bun to feel stressed, and you should immediately calm it down.

I hope you had a clearer vision of why rabbits do not want to eat a mouse, and you learned ways to stop mice from infiltrating the hutch of your bun.

Thanks a lot for reading!