* Lark found her forever home with an amazing family! Yay! *

Hamilton Animal Services contacted us when they received a stray rabbit with serious wounds on her neck. Turns out, the wounds contained two large cuterebra, which are known as rodent bots or bot fly larvae. The larvae penetrate the skin, and enter the body through an opening where they grow under the skin until they drop off (i.e. exit the host) many weeks later. The larvae (maggot) will continue to develop in the ground over winter until it hatches into the mature botfly in the spring.
Most animal rescue folks and vet clinic employees will tell you that cuterebras are one of the most disgusting things they have to deal with. They’re super gross, and they leave horrible open wounds on their host animal.

Thankfully, one of the vet techs at HAS was able to carefully remove the two cuterebras and we got Lark to the vet shortly after. She was put on antibiotics, and her re-check two weeks later went perfectly. She’s now been spayed and she’s ready to find her forever home!

Here’s  a report from Lark’s foster home:
“Lark is a lovely lady, but she can have a bit of “rabbitude.” Meaning, she will sometimes give a nip, or lunge or growl at you if you try to pet her from an angle she’s not comfortable with. We don’t think she means any harm though, as she doesn’t bite hard at all. Once she’s figured out you’re not a predator or someone out to harm her, she does enjoy being petted. She will happily hop all around you, over you and climb on you if you lay on the floor with her.
She’s perfectly litter trained, other than a few stray poops here and there. Lark loves all kinds of leafy greens and she especially likes Oxbow treats.
She’ll be a great companion for someone who is willing to be patient and understanding with her. She’d likely enjoy the company of another rabbit, as long as they were properly introduced.”

Lark’s story should be a reminder that domestic rabbits should not be housed outside full time, or abandoned outdoors. Aside from the many other dangers domestic rabbits face in the wild, this is yet another horrible circumstance that can befall them. If not treated, the wounds caused by the cuterebra can become infected and eventually kill the rabbit. And just try to imagine how uncomfortable it would be to have two large maggots living in your neck for weeks and weeks. A horrific thought.

The photos of Lark’s neck and the cuterebras can be found here. Warning, the photos are graphic.

Lark in her forever home with her “husbun” Sam.

Is a rabbit the right pet for you? Click here to find out.

Our fostered rabbits are housed in x-pens or similar enclosures so they have lots of room to move around when they aren’t out for floor time. Some of our rabbits are free range in their foster home.
Commercially made pet store rabbit cages are far too small to allow rabbits to stretch out and move around with ease.
Here are some great websites and photos outlining alternative rabbit housing using x pens and similar enclosures.
bunnyapproved.com
hopperhome.com
therabbithouse.com
Pinterest- Rabbit home idea

Can’t adopt but want to help? Donations of Oxbow Young Rabbit food, Timothy and Alfalfa hay, newspaper based litter, and rabbit toys are always appreciated!

Purchase items and have them delivered to us through our Amazon Wish List or through Tiny Paws Emporium. Just let Tiny Paws know that you’d like the donated items delivered to Ladybird.