Rabbits have a keen sense of hearing. Whilst a human’s hearing ranges from 64 hertz to 23,000 hertz, a rabbit’s hearing ranges from 360 hertz to 42,000 hertz. Due to their sensitive hearing abilities, rabbits do not mix well with the explosive fireworks season. To help keep your furry friends relaxed despite the loud blasts, we are sharing these useful tips that you can do on Fireworks Night.
Signs of a Scared Bunny
Rabbits become nervous and stressed when they suddenly hear loud noises. Here are a few hints that signify that your bunny is in distress:
- Grinding his teeth
- Aggression
- Changes in litter tray habits
- Changes in appetite
- Restlessness; suddenly motionless/playing dead
- Attempt to escape or hide
Top Tip #1: Transfer your rabbit’s hutch indoors.
If possible, bring your bunny’s hutch inside your home weeks before Fireworks Night. By doing so, he will be able to get used to his new temporary environment. This will give him the chance to settle down and feel safer before the fireworks begin. Be sure to place his cage in a room that is far from the reaches of boisterous noises. During the night of the event, if the room has windows, draw the curtains to obstruct the bright flashes.
You can leave your rabbit’s hutch outside if it is not possible to move it indoors. Just make sure to turn the enclosure. Let it face a fence or a wall to dampen the sounds and prevent him from being exposed to the flashing lights of fireworks.
Top Tip #2: Cover your rabbit’s hutch.
Whether his enclosure is outside or inside your house, consider covering it with a thick blanket. This will act as a soundproofing material, which will aid in blocking out some of the noise. However, leave the other side of the hutch uncovered for ventilation. Do not forget to regularly check up on your furry friend to ensure that his hutch is not too warm because of the cover.
Top Tip #3: Provide a hiding spot.
You can create a safe place for your rabbit where he can tuck himself away from the bangs. To make a rabbit hiding spot, follow the following steps:
- Get a small cardboard box with enough space for your rabbit to rest in.
- Use scissors to cut an opening on the side of the box, which will serve as the entrance and exit.
- Place the box upturned inside the enclosure.
- Fill it with bedding, such as hay and torn newspapers, so that your bunny can burrow and make himself comfortable inside.
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Top Tip #4: Use white noise.
Suppress the boisterous blasts with white noise, which is comprised of various sounds to mask the cacophony in an environment. Turn on the radio, television, air conditioner, or fan to muffle the explosions. You can also play relaxing music such as classical music, which can help in easing your furry friend’s anxiousness.
Top Tip #5: Give your bunny toys to keep him busy.
Offer environment-enriching toys to your furry companion to keep him distracted. Apart from that, these toys encourage his natural behaviour and exploration too. Your bunny’s toys can be comprised of cardboard boxes, edible timothy grass balls, paper bags, and willow balls. Be sure to check and remove any plastic tape or staple wire that might be sticking on the bags and boxes. This is to prevent your bunny from accidentally ingesting these harmful items.
Top Tip #6: Stay close to your furry buddy.
Bunnies are social animals that are known to bond more in stressful conditions. Thus, it is best to stick close to your bunny during Fireworks Night to alleviate his uneasiness. Let your bunny initiate contact first. Avoid forcing him to go near you or you might scare him away.
Generally, rabbits are not fond of being cuddled or handled too much. It is best to hang out with your rabbits without touching him. Just sit next to your furry companion and allow him to bond with you in his own way.
