Finding and Taking Care of Wild Bunnies

Every spring kids [and big kids like me] come across nests of orphaned bunnies. If your children decide they want to adopt a wild bunny this spring here is some information you can share with them.

When I was a kid we either found bunnies or one of our dogs brought one home every summer. So last spring when my kids found a tiny little baby bunny in the middle of a play ground one afternoon we started researching the Internet, making phone calls and we learned a lot!

Most of the bunnies found aren't orphaned at all. Mother Rabbits only feed their young once a day and can be found in the nest only at night and in the early hours of the morning. Although many other animals stay in the nest with their young to keep them warm bunnies build nests that allow babies to stay warm in mom's absence. Baby bunnies are used to being left alone so it is always best that you leave them alone too.

But what if they really are orphaned? If bunnies are truly orphaned your first step should be to call the Humane Society to find out who in your area rehabs wild animals. Remember in most states it is against the law to keep wild animals so please don't take the bunnies home with you.

Before you make the call look for a few signs that their mother has not been coming back to the nest.

-Do their sides (tummies) look sunk in or do they look normal or even plump? Wild bunnies won't be as plump as domestic bunnies but their sides shouldn't be sunk in either.

-Is their skin bluish? Bunnies that are warm enough and getting enough calories (from being fed by their mom) will have a pink/gray colored skin.

-Are they crying constantly? Bunnies will make some noise but unless they are squealing non stop they probably aren't hungry.

If you don't see these signs then you can safely assume their mother is coming back to the nest at night and taking care of her babies.

Leaving them behind can seem so mean but the truth of the matter is baby bunnies don't survive well in captivity or with humans. In fact less than half live to maturity. It is hard to leave them but it is even sadder to realize they have died in your care.

One of the most common things wild bunnies that have been taken in by humans die from is overfeeding. Remember momma rabbits only feed their young once a day and only for 5 minutes at a time.

If you have to bring wild bunnies into your home remember they need to be kept in a temperature of 65 F or less. Sounds cold doesn't it? It does but remember bunnies live outside and that is the temperature they are used to and like.

If you have to feed wild bunnies you can use some Kitten Milk Replacer which is available at Walmart but don't forget before feeding them you really need to get into contact with a professional rehabber.

And something I wish I had known when I was a kid…. My dad raised rabbits. We always had a barn or two filled with rabbits and since baby bunnies were a daily occurrence I knew what to expect and how to play with and enjoy bunnies.
But remember those are domestic rabbits.
Wild rabbits aren't the same.

Can they become pets? Yes it has happened but for the most part wild rabbits are wild and domestic rabbits are pets.

As hard as it is to do the best thing for YOU to do when you find a nest of wild bunnies is to simply leave them alone.

More information about finding and caring for orphaned wild bunnies can be read at Rabbit.org http://www.rabbit.org/care/orphan.html