Rabbits intestines moving - worms?

[Woodsy]

After paunching a rabbit last night I noticed the intestines were moving/writhing. This continued for a long while after paunching the rabbit. I can only assume worms in the intestines must be the cause but would like to have that confirmed or denied by anyone who knows for sure. Does anyone know the reason for this? Or seen it themselves? I’ve got video footage on phone but can’t seem to upload it here. If anyone knows how to upload video please let me know. Thanks.

 

[long_range_rob]

Sounds like peristalsis to me. Involuntary actions continue after death.

 

[JockStalk]

Smooth muscle in gut moves exactly same as a worm. Continues a fair while after bugsy has shuffled off this mortal coil.

 

[Dalua]

Sounds like peristalsis to me. Involuntary actions continue after death.

I think this sounds right. Gut worms wouldn't have the 'oomph' to make the guts wriggle, I don't think, even if they were very numerous.

 

[Woodsy]

Thanks folks. Learned something new today! I’m amazed such a lot of movement can continue so long after death. It continued for at least four minutes strongly while I watched and filmed it, then it started to rain and I left. I wonder how long it carried on for?

Thinking about it, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this movement before, paunching rabbits in the dark with a head torch, but had always assumed it was just a play of the torch light on the shiny entrails rather than actual movement. Last night is the first time in many years I’ve ever really watched closely. Was very strange!

 

[Fabnosh]

As a cautionary note......have you seen 'Alien'?

FN

 

[Woodsy]

As a cautionary note......have you seen 'Alien'?

FN

That did come to mind!

 

[long_range_rob]

I did once dispatch a rabbit at 100 yds with a 243. It’s heart was still beating when I got up to it, it’s heart was not actually connected to the animal at all but still ticking.

 

[Shabz]

When I was a kid, we used to go and shoot a rabbit with an air rifle after the pub to fry up for a kebab. I remember watching bits of meat twitching still on the counter top. You don’t get any fresher!

 

[Tim.243]

That did come to mind!

did you open it up to check?

 

[Olaf]

I did once dispatch a rabbit at 100 yds with a 243. It’s heart was still beating when I got up to it, it’s heart was not actually connected to the animal at all but still ticking.

I believe that snakes heads can still bite you even after being separated from the body of the snake, I saw some survivalist explaining it and he recommended burying it away from the camp to prevent an accidental bite!
re the op , the intestines continuing to move , that’s totally normal and it’s not Worms. I’ve noticed it in Muntjac intestines too, less so with fallow deer though. Not surprising though as I’ve seen a muntjac run over 100 m from the shot site into some brambles despite having left it’s heart and lungs at the shot site.
Kindest regards, Olaf

 

[bogtrotter]

Its not unusual, seen it in deer also.

 

[Woodsy]

I need to pay more attention - have never noticed this with deer!

 

[Scapegoat]

It can be quite disconcerting. I once watched a rabbit's back rippling about six hours after it had been shot and paunched.

 

[User00025]

Having put down horses in kennels butchering them and hanging the pieces up. I have gone to cut some off a joint and on applying the knife the meat jumped. This would be hours later.

 

[Shooterman1]

Its not unusual, seen it in deer also.

Same more so in winter for some reason

 

[geoffw]

Having put down horses in kennels butchering them and hanging the pieces up. I have gone to cut some off a joint and on applying the knife the meat jumped. This would be hours later.

Was it just the meat that jumped?

 

[User00025]

Was it just the meat that jumped?

Definitely not, I shot back about two yards the first time. It really gave me the creeps.

 

[foxhunter]

It can be quite disconcerting. I once watched a rabbit's back rippling about six hours after it had been shot and paunched.

Quite common , seen it loads of times