Most rabbits do not like to be picked up, even by their owners. Your rabbit may stand on his hind legs and look directly at you or other family members. Some rabbits owners call this the “meerkat stance”. Humans are sometimes confused by this behavior and assume the rabbit wants to be lifted up.
When you see your rabbit standing on his hind legs, rest assured he is not asking you to lift him up. He is just trying to get a better view of what is going on above ground level.
Rabbits are ground animals. They feel safest with all four paws on the floor.
Think about a wild rabbit. They also stand on their hind legs, but we know they want nothing to do with being lifted from the ground. That’s exactly what happens when a predator captures them, and there is nothing pleasant about that experience.
Predator Bird Fear
Think about a large predator bird like a hawk or owl capturing a wild (or a domestic/pet rabbit whose human has “set him free”). As the bird carries its meal away, the rabbit watches the ground get further from view. Since rabbits can literally be scared to death, the captured rabbit likely dies in flight of heart failure from the fear. Picking up your rabbit and bringing him up to your height would, of course, give him a similar feeling. This is especially true when rabbits are lifted from the ground quickly.
Since a picked-up rabbit feels as though he is in great danger, he does anything he can to get free. This is a natural response and part of his base nature. He will kick, twist, bite, scratch and even launch himself away causing serious self-harm because he is experiencing what he believes is a life-or-death situation.
People have lost their pet rabbits due to spinal injuries or other serious injuries because of improper handling. Proper handling of your pet rabbit assures you will prevent him from wiggling and twisting so that these injuries cannot occur. The key is safe handling, but also handling in a way that the rabbit feels safe at all times.
If your rabbit is not used to being properly handled, be patient. Always avoid abruptly picking him up. Regardless your rabbit’s beginnings, it is much better to sit on the floor and allow him to come to you. This stress-free method lets him know he is safe and that he can trust you in the future. If an emergency should arise in the future where you must pick him up quickly, he will likely know that he is in safe hands.