White wild rabbit

[Atomic Elk]

I've just joined, so firstly hi to all on what seems to be a very friendly board.

I live in Devon and saw during a walk this morning a white rabbit hopping around in a field. I've previously seem the usual wild rabbits in this field. Anyone know if albino wild rabbits occur? or might this be an escaped pet?

Atomic Elk

[very boring banned member]

Domestic Oryctolagus often is white or whatever colour (Tervetuloa to BF, from The Official Colourblind). -Yesterday we had this April news in local newspaper, that white Alces was residing in town park - but as it is shy, it is preferred to take off shoes, when approaching it (right now we have below-freezing-point temperatures). -Though there has been observed three white Alces and one Odocoileus inside 40 km radius this winter!

So what I was trying to say, very possibly it is an escapee, but on the other hand, not at all impossible of being a wild beast.

[CJW]

Hi there Elk, and welcome to Bird Forum from all the Moderators and Admin.Staff.
I'm sure you'll find plenty of interest on the site and I notice from your second posting thast you're interested in moths (one of my particular interests also). I look forward to reading about your catches.

Chris

[Atomic Elk]

Thank'ee for the welcome!

[helenol]

Hi Elk, welcome to the bird forum, I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as we all do.

Regards

[Ian Whittle]

:hippy:

Dont know much about rabbits but at Kielder where I live, we have a group of Cormorants of which one is an albino, people keep thinking its a stork!

[david kelly]

We've got a black rabbit on the housing estate here in Tranent. It is by far the most nervous of the local rabbits and is the first to go to cover when danger approaches. He is a buck and seems to dominate the other bucks but is a bit more wary. We do get the odd Buzzard overhead.

[daverigden]

saw a white rabbit on the isle of may last summer- unlkely escape unless extremely good swimmer!
dave

[Gill Osborne]

I'll bear that white Cormorant in mind when I'm next up Kielder way...don't want to start the nervous twitching and heart-pounding that goes with seeing new birds! A white stork would be a new one for me.
As to the subject of white rabbits...a lot of pet white rabbits are a bit bigger than a wild one...how does it compare in size? Back in the mid-80's at the Wallsend Swallow Pond there was a white pet rabbit that someone must have dumped in the Plantation. I used to see it all the time amongst the trees but it was extremely nervous and was totally unapproachable. At about the same time there was a wild rabbit which was a lot darker than the others...again, up at the Swallow Pond.

GILL

[Mickymouse]

I don't know about Rabbits, but in one of our local cemeteries we had several albino Squirrels, alas I haven't seen them for quite a while and the last time I did, no camera.
Mick

[Atomic Elk]

I'll bear that white Cormorant in mind when I'm next up Kielder way...don't want to start the nervous twitching and heart-pounding that goes with seeing new birds! A white stork would be a new one for me.
As to the subject of white rabbits...a lot of pet white rabbits are a bit bigger than a wild one...how does it compare in size? Back in the mid-80's at the Wallsend Swallow Pond there was a white pet rabbit that someone must have dumped in the Plantation. I used to see it all the time amongst the trees but it was extremely nervous and was totally unapproachable. At about the same time there was a wild rabbit which was a lot darker than the others...again, up at the Swallow Pond.

GILL

Hi Gill;

It doesn't look much larger than a wild rabbit. Also doesn't go very far from cover - at least on the 2 occasions that I've seen it now.

AE

[saluki]

I've just joined, so firstly hi to all on what seems to be a very friendly board.

I live in Devon and saw during a walk this morning a white rabbit hopping around in a field. I've previously seem the usual wild rabbits in this field. Anyone know if albino wild rabbits occur? or might this be an escaped pet?

Atomic Elk

I've never seen a wild white rabbit, though there's no reason why you wouldn't get albionos or white 'sports' - though they might not survive long. I've seen rabbits with white patches on their face, and white feet aren't unusual. Black rabbits are relatively common in some areas. There's an ICI depot not far from my house where black rabbits used to make up a quarter of the population. I've seen beautiful blue rabbits too occasionally (similar colour to a Persian Blue cat) and ginger ones in Scotland - the same colour as the nape of a normally coloured rabbit's neck. Some of these unusual colours might be the result of pet rabbits escaping or being put there after mixy has wiped populations out, though the ginger one's were almost certainly naturally occuring.

saluki

[Nicola3]

I've just joined, so firstly hi to all on what seems to be a very friendly board.

I live in Devon and saw during a walk this morning a white rabbit hopping around in a field. I've previously seem the usual wild rabbits in this field. Anyone know if albino wild rabbits occur? or might this be an escaped pet?

Atomic Elk

Hi,

I'm in Devon also and I run an rabbit rescue. It sounds like it is definately a domestic rabbit that has either escaped or been dumped. Lots of people these days dump their rabbits as all the rescues are full. Thing is a white rabbit in the wild doesn't stand much of a chance. Firstly it is white and will make easy prey. Secondly it will not know how to live in the wild as it's a domestic animal. If you catch it I will take the dear thing or find some one who can.

Nicola : )

If you pm me I can give you my contact number.

[London Birder]

:hippy:

Dont know much about rabbits but at Kielder where I live, we have a group of Cormorants of which one is an albino, people keep thinking its a stork!

smart!

any pics exist of that Ian?

[James Lowther]

nicola & LB,
unfortunately this thread is 2 years old so you may not get any responses!
:)
James

[London Birder]

ahh ok, didn't notice that, thanks James.

[jurek]

maybe it was the killer bunny? ;)

[danehower]

maybe it was the killer bunny? ;)
LOL - like the one in Monty Python ? With nasty pointy teeth.