My cat, Jasmine, brought me this little gift this morning.  Luckily the little bunny was unscatched but the poor little thing was scared to death.  I kept it in a cat carrier all day while I read up on orphaned rabbits.  A guy with the DNR told me it was big enough to be on its own.  So late this afternoon I took the bunny to the edge of some woods and watched it scamper off. 

   

According to what I read, wild rabbits don't make good pets and the stress of captivity will doom them to a miserable and depressing death.  Often, people find infant rabbits that appear to be too small to be on their own. The rule-of-thumb is that if the rabbits are 5 inches or longer, they are old enough to be on their own and should be released where they were found.

Baby rabbits should be picked up only as a last resort, such as when you know that the parents are dead or injured. Young rabbits are difficult to rehabilitate and more often than not, they do not survive the stress of being handled.

Do not attempt to take care of baby rabbits yourself. They require special conditions and diets that only a trained rehabilitator can provide. If you are certain that the mother is no longer able to care for the babies because of severe injury or death, contact a wildlife rehabilitation center. It is possible that they can find a foster mother - a rabbit who is nursing bunnies of the same age - to care for the babies.

If you find bunnies with ears at least 1 inch long, leave them alone. They are able to live independently. If they appear to be less than 21 days old, keep in mind that the best chance any wild rabbit has of survival is to remain in the wild. You may think that the doe has abandoned the baby, but frequently she is nearby and just allowing the bunny a chance to explore its world.

  

 

Cobblestone Realty, Inc.
621 Tebeau Street
Waycross, GA  31501

Cell:  912-614-1353
Office: 912-283-9595 

 
Posted by Lana Minchew on 09/15/2009 12:50 AM   Comments (4)   orphaned wildlife, rabbits  
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4 Comments on A Little Gift From My Cat

SEP
15
2009
982,677 Points 114 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Nice cat . . . I have rabbits as pets, they are white, and don't fit in the outside -- they don't blend.  They were dumped at a golf course.  Good information to know.  But white rabbits are domesticated, stand out like a sort thume (to predators such as owls, coyotes, raccoons) and are good pets.
1:21am • #1
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16
2009
214,136 Points

Hello Lana,

How cute!  Your cat brought you a gift unharmed!  Thank you for your post & the information about wild orphaned rabbits.  Thank you for sharing.  I enjoyed your post!

Rita

 
4:01pm • #2
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17
2009
540,443 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

ToulaRosebrock,com

Hi Lana:

How adorable...

I didn't know about the 1 inch rule.

Thanks for the information.
7:16am • #3
SEP
20
2009
442,481 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master

Womnderful that you read up and got the right advice!  Sometimes kind hearts don't do the right thing!

Cucte Photos!
11:23am • #4

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Lana Minchew

Waycross, GA

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Cobblestone Realty, Inc.

Address: 621 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA, 31501

Office Phone: (912) 283-9595

Cell Phone: (912) 614-1353

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