A rascally rabbit has caused a bomb scare at Adelaide Airport.

The Australian Federal Police called in the bomb squad to investigate after finding an abandoned bag in the female toilets at the airport on Wednesday night.

Inside the pink Lorna Jane bag, they found a male rabbit wearing a red harness but no other form of identification.

AFP officers alerted RSPCA South Australia’s animal ambulance, which brought it back to the organisation’s Stepney headquarters, where it stayed in a warm cage overnight.

The Lorna Jane bag in which the rabbit was found. Photo: RSPCA

According to the RSPCA, the rabbit has been unharmed by the ordeal.

“This is the first job of this kind that I’ve come across in my 26 years of service with the RSPCA,” rescue officer Nalika Van Loenen said.

“The young male rabbit is clearly very-well socialised and cared for.

“He is even harness-trained. The police had put him in a large box and [got] some carrots from Subway, so he had some fresh shredded carrot to munch on while they waited for me to arrive.”

AFP acting state manager Commander Brett McCann said it was an unusual situation.

“We treat everything in the aviation space very seriously, but our bomb appraisal officers certainly weren’t expecting to find a rabbit in unattended baggage,” Commander McCann said.

“Thankfully, the rabbit is safe and well and hopefully the owner will be found.”

The RSPCA is now appealing for information from anyone who may know who dumped the one-year-old dwarf rabbit.

“A couple of scenarios came to mind — his owner could have been leaving the country and knew by leaving their pet in a populated area he would be found and cared for,” Ms Van Loenen said.

“Or they may have been planning on smuggling him on board a plane, but backed out at the last minute.

“The pink Lorna Jane bag is very distinctive, so we really hope someone noticed it and saw something.”

Anyone with information should call the RSPCA on 1300 477 722.

–ABC