The Nature Nook

The Nature Nook The Nature Nook is an independent ethical pet supply store & exotic animal rescue. Registered Charity #: 1210835
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Meet our team:

- Makenzie Ferrier MSc

Makenzie is one of our two founders and current shop manager at The Nature Nook. He has a MSc in Conservation and a passion for all animals, domestic or otherwise. In his free time he is a keen crafter; many of our collars, bandanas and hammocks were made by him! You'll find him behind the counter with Jimbo the Amazon parrot most days a week, probably sha

ring some food.

- Alex Woods

Alex is the second of our two founders. While she has unfortunately had to step back from the business for the foreseeable future, she was still instrumental in it's birth and helped to make the store what it is today. She currently works at Paignton Zoo as a zookeeper, working in the reptile and amphibian section! She is also an amateur wildlife photographer and total parrot enthusiast. If you pop into our store you'll get to see her two conures in our aviary, Heidi and Rumple!

🦜🐰Buy small, pay twice! Beware of the false economy of "starter" cages🐰🦜We regularly hear that customers are in need of ...
04/09/2026

🦜🐰Buy small, pay twice! Beware of the false economy of "starter" cages🐰🦜

We regularly hear that customers are in need of enclosure upgrades after buying small, starter cages or enclosures with the intention of upgrading their animals as they grow.

There are, of course, times when this is perfectly appropriate! Smaller cages may be needed for babies who find it easy to escape bar spacing in larger cages, but generally we advise buying exactly what you need before getting your animal for several reasons.

1. The price of goods seems to be rising by the week. There's no guarantee that the price of the enclosure you have your eye on won't rise significantly by the time you need it.
2. You'll end up spending MORE in both time and money by cycling through three or four enclosures as your animal ages. That money could be invested into a better set up from the beginning that will last you significantly longer!
3. It's stressful. I can't tell you how many people I've spoken to who suddenly realize the animal needs upgrading sooner than expected and are now left in a very stressful situation, desperately trying to source an enclosure within their budget.

The size of this thing! 🤯
03/09/2026

The size of this thing! 🤯

Cork bark has arrived and check out the size of this monster! 😍
03/09/2026

Cork bark has arrived and check out the size of this monster! 😍

We have two small bags of chicken and rice harringtons, two packs of butchers canned food, as well as some Lily's kitche...
03/09/2026

We have two small bags of chicken and rice harringtons, two packs of butchers canned food, as well as some Lily's kitchen tins.

This is our first foray into dog and cat food so we're starting small but hope to expand into more flavours as we go.

Wholesaler day is upon us! Aiming to be back by 1pm. Comment any requests below- dog supplies, cat supplies, small anima...
03/09/2026

Wholesaler day is upon us!

Aiming to be back by 1pm. Comment any requests below- dog supplies, cat supplies, small animal food, hay, frozen reptile food, raw food and frozen dog food and we will see what we can do!

02/09/2026

Going to the wholesaler tomorrow! Send any requests my way

01/09/2026

This was 7.99 from Wilko and made the perfect little hide for them. Safe to say they loved it!

Do you have any unconventional enrichment options for your rabbits?

Cork bark flats and tunnels arriving later in the week! Stay tuned
31/08/2026

Cork bark flats and tunnels arriving later in the week! Stay tuned

30/08/2026

🐰⚠️ MYXOMATOSIS AWARENESS – PLEASE READ & SHARE ⚠️🐰

We’ve recently had an increase in people bringing rabbits showing possible signs of myxomatosis into our centre, as well as calls from people who have found sick wild rabbits and aren’t sure what to do.
We completely understand that you’re trying to help ❤️ — but bringing a potentially infected rabbit into a rescue can put other rabbits at serious risk.

📖 A LITTLE HISTORY
Myxomatosis was actually deliberately introduced by humans to control wild rabbit populations. The virus originated in South America and was introduced to Australia in 1950 and France in 1952. It reached Britain in 1953, causing a devastating decline in wild rabbits.
Although wild rabbits have since developed greater resistance, myxomatosis has never disappeared and remains a serious and potentially fatal disease today. 💔

🦠 WHAT IS MYXOMATOSIS?
Myxomatosis is a highly infectious viral disease in rabbits. It can spread through biting insects such as fleas and mosquitoes, direct contact and contaminated hands, clothing, footwear and equipment.
People cannot catch myxomatosis, but we can accidentally carry contamination between rabbits.

🚨 SIGNS CAN INCLUDE:

• Swollen, red or crusty eyes

• Swelling around the eyes, face, ears or ge****ls

• Discharge from the eyes or nose

• Lethargy or weakness

• Loss of appetite

• Difficulty breathing

• A rabbit that is extremely unwell or struggling to move

💔 THERE IS NO SPECIFIC CURE
Myxomatosis can be extremely painful and distressing. A vet can assess the rabbit and provide treatment and pain relief where appropriate. Sadly, in severe cases, euthanasia may be recommended to prevent suffering.

🐇 FOUND A WILD RABBIT WITH POSSIBLE MYXOMATOSIS?

❌ PLEASE DO NOT BRING IT INTO A RESCUE CENTRE.

➡️ Contact a local veterinary practice and explain that you have found a wild rabbit showing possible signs of myxomatosis.

➡️ Do not take the rabbit into the waiting room.

➡️ Let the vet know you are outside and follow their instructions.
If you have pet rabbits at home, tell the vet — this is particularly important.

🧼 ALREADY HANDLED THE RABBIT?
Don’t panic, but take precautions before going near your own rabbits:
🧼 Wash your hands thoroughly.

👕 Change clothing that may have come into contact with the rabbit.

👟 Remove potentially contaminated footwear.

🧹 Thoroughly clean and disinfect carriers, towels and equipment.

🐰 Keep the rabbit completely away from your own rabbits and their food, hay and belongings.

💉 PROTECT YOUR OWN RABBITS
Vaccination is one of the most important ways to protect rabbits against myxomatosis — including indoor rabbits, who are not completely protected from biting insects.
Regular flea prevention, good hygiene and limiting contact with wild rabbits can also help reduce the risk.

❤️ PLEASE SHARE
We know finding a sick wild rabbit is upsetting, and we’re so grateful to everyone who wants to help.
But if you suspect myxomatosis, a vet should be your first point of contact — not a rescue centre.
By following this simple step, you can help protect the rabbit you’ve found, your own rabbits and the many vulnerable rabbits cared for by rescues. 🐰❤️
📢 Please share — the more people who know what to do, the safer our rabbits will be.

Address

1-5 TOTNES Road
Paignton
TQ45JX

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4pm
Friday 9:30am - 4pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

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