MARSHFIELD – Members of the Marshfield Police Department caught 13 domesticated rabbits in the woods off Pudding Hill Lane over the weekend and will try to find new homes for them, the town’s animal control officer said.
The animal control division received a call Saturday reporting that domesticated rabbits were running through the woods. Seven were caught that day and six the next day, Marshfield Animal Control Officer Courtney Ellis reported.
Two of the 13 died, she posted on Facebook, but 11 were safe and taken to the Marshfield Animal Shelter.
Seeing that many rabbits in the woods is “a crazy experience,” Griffin Webb, Marshfield’s animal control supervisor, said. Webb was not present for the rescue but said capturing so many domestic rabbits isn’t common.
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The rabbits appear to be Flemish Giant or New Zealand rabbit mixes, animal control officials said. A group of rabbits is sometimes referred to as a “fluffle.”
“There were two adults and many juveniles/babies,” the department posted. “One of the adults had a sparkly pink cat collar around her neck.”
Animal control employees caught the rabbits with their hands and set humane Havahart traps, Webb said.
The 11 rabbits will remain at the Marshfield Animal Shelter for a week and then they will be relocated.
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“Whether that be adopting them out into homes from our animal shelter or putting them in a situation or transferring them to another organization that may be able to better find homes for all the rabbits as well,” Webb said. “One way or another, they will find their way into loving homes.”
Animal control officers don’t know how the rabbits got into the woods, the department posted, but they were most likely dumped by whoever owned them.
Anyone looking to donate supplies for the rabbits or other animals can take them to the Marshfield Animal Shelter, 156 Clay Pit Road. Supplies to support the rabbits include greens, rabbit food and shavings.
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Reach Alyssa Fell at afell@patriotledger.com.
