In the dead of night, a construction crew working along a Santa Cruz highway this week discovered a large rabbit near the road.
No, a massive rabbit.
The animal was larger than most babies and easily stretched across the torso of an adult man. He weighed more than 26 pounds.
However, the sumo-sized rabbit was not as fast as the average bunny. Construction workers and California Highway Patrol officers were able to corral the rabbit, which they nicknamed 'Bugs,' to take it to an animal hospital; He eventually ended up in the care of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.
“It's definitely not a wild rabbit,” said Amber Rowland, general manager of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. “It's definitely a domesticated rabbit. It is difficult to say whether it was kept as a pet or as a farm animal or as a novelty. “The animal was in a very bad mood when they handled it.”
Interestingly, he said the size of the rabbit is not uncommon for its breed, a Flemish giant, which is among the largest rabbits in the world and is often kept as pets.
In an initial assessment, shelter staff said they found the rabbit had some puncture wounds and gaps in the fur near its neck, evidence that it had likely been attacked by some type of predator, Rowland said. But she said the animal is now recovering and residing at a partner facility focused on “specialized rabbit placement.” She declined to reveal the specific location.
Rowland said the rabbit's owner should contact the shelter and that her team is hopeful that “a loving family” will come forward.
“We're hoping an owner will come forward, but it's hard to say,” he said. “Shelters take in animals in different circumstances all the time. Sometimes they are accidental,” like when an animal escapes, but “sometimes animals are abandoned by owners who no longer want to care for them.”
After a few days with the rabbit awaiting the owner, the shelter will work to find a permanent home for the rabbit if it is healthy enough to be adopted, Rowland said.
