Posted on 08/20/2011 8:28:49 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Dog break-in scares 600 rabbits to death
China Daily/Asia News Network
Thursday, Aug 18, 2011
CHINA - Three dogs broke into a rabbit farm in a village in Zhejiang province and scared 600 rabbits to death.
Yan Fugen, owner of the farm in Haixin village, found about 1,000 rabbits had died after three dogs broke into the farm on Aug 7. He was surprised when he saw the nearly 600 rabbits that had died had no injuries on their bodies.
Chen Dongxiang, an expert with the local animal husbandry bureau, said the deaths were the result of the animals' stress response.
When rabbits or other animals are scared by a severe noise or sudden surprise, their bodies secrete large amounts of adrenaline.
Their sympathetic nervous system also enter into a state of excitation, causing their hearts to beat fast and their organs to function improperly. That can lead to death.
Chen said pheasants, like rabbits, can also be scared to death.
I got my first rabbit as a pet recently, and as soon as I get a decent outdoor hutch built, will get a second and start raising baby bunnies. I'm going to give them away until I need to raise them for meat, because they really are very cute, but I'm going to have the meat option available.
But I saw the little sibling of the one that got trapped in the garage today sitting under the shed. Its momma must be around still too. They have a few places to hide nearby so they have a chance. These are wild Cottontail Rabbits.
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