Alaska rabbit
The Alaskan rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit breed, weighing around 7-9 lbs (3–4 kg) with glossy jet-black fur. Any colour other than black is a fault for this breed. Despite its name, the Alaskan rabbit originates in Germany, rather than Alaska. It is recognised by the British Rabbit Council; however it is not recognised by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. The Alaskan rabbit was created in 1900 by Max Fischer of Gotha, a rabbit judge, as well as a man named Schmidt of Langensalza. They crossed Havanas, Dutch, Himalayans and Champagne d'Argents with the goal of obtaining a rabbit that looks like the Alaskan Fox, which were profitable in the fur trade of that time. They did not achieve this goal, and instead ended up with the jet-black Alaska. These Alaskan rabbits, with jet-black fur were first shown in 1907, and imported to North America in the 1970s by Bert Reurs of Canada. They were added into the American Rabbit Breeders Standard, but after Black Havanas were created in the mid-1970s, interest waned and they were dropped from Standards in 1981. The Alaskan rabbit weighs 7-9 lbs. It is considered a Normal Fur breed by British Rabbit Council standards, and only comes in its standard, pitch black colour. The Alaska Rabbit Club is the British Rabbit Council's national specialty club for this breed.
| Life Span | 8-12 years |
| Weight | 2-5 kg |
What to Know Before Buying an Alaska rabbit
Finding a responsible Alaska rabbit breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells rabbits commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Alaska rabbit. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Alaska rabbits appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for an Alaska rabbit breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
Search USDA Breeders
