My friend and I went hawking yesterday and my friend's red-tail caught a full grown rabbit. On the outside of the rabbit were black burr-like things and we thought the rabbit just had burrs stuck in it's coat. The area is full of all kinds of plants that get their seeds stuck to you. So, my friend fed her bird the rabbit head but not the body. She opened the body up and on one of it's kidneys was a large white tumor. The rabbit also had tapeworm eggs in it. She cut the tumor and tapeworm eggs out and said she figures it is fine to feed the rest to the bird. I've never heard of a hawk getting a disease from a rabbit but I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this?
Honestly, I couldn't tell you. My guess is that something would happen to it because that can't be healthy. If it did have a tumor and tapeworms, cutting those parts out wouldn't help. At least I don't think so because it would be in the bloodstream.
This could present a problem due to the fact that the worms lay eggs every where. The tumar, I don't know. I still wouln't give it to the bird though. NASTY!!!!
"You're a smart kid Johny, you really are, but as long as I'm around you'll only be second best." The Godfather
Unfortunatly, I have heard of this quite a bit. It is quite common in rabbits. As for the part about eating it?.....Not really sure....
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
Post by SimoneBird on Sept 20, 2004 16:43:37 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the responses. I'll pass the info on to my friend. It definitely was pretty disgusting! I don't know how much longer the rabbit would have lived like that...
Post by Master Yarak on Sept 20, 2004 23:26:25 GMT -5
Just saw this one.. It seems silly to me to feed anything questionable. The worst case is that it kills the bird... is it worth it? To me some things are just common sense. Yes, the digestive system of healthy RT is tough they do eat carrion and drive away vultures. Only when they have to. Had it been me I would have transfered it and given its reward on the lure. You guys who post or read alot on this sight know what I mean when I say "IT is ALL about PREVENTION !! This is a good example. Again it is just me. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
Post by SimoneBird on Sept 21, 2004 12:54:49 GMT -5
Hi all,
Thanks for the replies.
Aaron-the rabbit's liver was clean but thank you for the site and info. It is definitely good to be informed.
Yarak- I agree, better safe than sorry. I was just posting to see if it was perhaps a common thing in rabbits. I remember it being talked about on another list and just wanted to get more info. My friend emailed me and she found out what it was: Shope's papillomavirus, the virus that causes "jackalopes." She said it is spread by mosquitos or rabbit ticks and harmless to hawks, dogs and humans. Some links: ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/jacksforreal.html ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/jackalope.html This is definitely what the rabbit had but the growths were much smaller than what is shown in these pictures.
Post by SimoneBird on Sept 22, 2004 9:09:20 GMT -5
Hi Aaron,
The rabbit had a lot of the growths on it's face but they were also on it's rump and one on it's belly. The related version of the virus in people is the one that causes warts!