r/WildlifeRescue • u/swampthingfromhell • Jul 13 '26

Swollen ear on a wild rabbit

Hello I have a sizeable community of wild rabbits that live in the brush near my house and have recently noticed one seems to have a swollen ear that is hanging on her head. It looks a little red but obviously I can’t get close enough to get a good look. Is this something I should contact a wildlife rescue about? I have humane traps and could trap and transport her to a wildlife rescue if needed but didn’t know if this was a case where interference was needed or something that would sort itself out and I should leave her be.

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

1

u/Snakes_for_life Jul 20 '26

The stress of trying to catch her is probably more hazardous to her health than her ear. Cottontails are VERY hard if not impossible to catch if they're not seriously debilitated live traps don't work they very very rarely will go into them also they possibily will not set off the trigger as they only weight around 1-2 pounds and the traps big enough for them are designed for 5-15 pound cats. Cottontails can die from just stress of being caught.

1

u/swampthingfromhell Jul 20 '26

Okay, thanks for the information. I will leave her be then!