abandoned baby rabbits, what to do?

[kozmic]

We watched as a mother rabbit dug out her nest a few weeks ago and knew she'd be back to have her babies. The nest is right outside our back picture window by our tortoise enclosure.

She had 6 babies a few days ago. Now mom is m.i.a. probably food for a nearby coyote den, if I had to guess. As of yesterday, we saw a couple they looked fine. Today though we've only seen one she is clearly distressed and endangered.

We have raised all manor of animal, reptile..... We currently have 2 rabbits. We have tanks/cages, heat sources, lights, bedding, Timothy hey, rabbit food, kitten formula, water bottles, etc. I know we can give the surviving babies a better chance than they have now (which is less than zero).

So do we jump in and bring the babies in or let nature take it's course? If they were to survive for a few weeks I would want them to be released. So anything we do now would need to be done with minimal "human imprinting".

The realist in me says that they are perfect snake food size for a few of our big males! I'd have a problem with that option and Mrs. Kozmic would have my *** but, you know....just sayin!

Input please as time is of the essence. I'm sure they won't survive another night. My wife is on the fence but I know it's killing her inside. I'm always up for a challenge but don't want to trump mother nature.

Regardless, I can't keep them where they are because they are literally 8 feet from my back door. I don't want to invite predators that close.

 

[OFT II]

If you have to ask then you know what you'll end up doing. Post some pictures of your new bunnies for us to see.

 

[cbvanb]

Wild rabbits are extremely difficult to rescue at that age. We faced the same decision last year when one of our dogs killed the mother rabbit. Among other things, the mother rabbit stimulates her young to urinate by licking their genitals, and this goes on for a couple weeks at a minimum. A human would have to simulate the same thing with wet cotton balls or something similar, or the babies die of uremic poisoning, or some such thing. It seems cruel, but nature has a way of dealing with these events. There isn't much you can do.

 

[kozmic]

Yeah, I'd pretty much draw the line at that whole licking thing.

When something like this happens so close to your house you feel like you're somehow obligated to become the surrogate mother. You're right though, at such a young age the mother serves a multitude of functions to aid in survival. Many of which are not easily duplicated or probably even fully understood.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Just remember. They were born free.....
Born Free - Matt Monro - YouTube

 

[rimfired]

Born to die like everything. Sooner or later. Circle of life. Don't intervene, let nature take its course.

 

[pace40]

I dunno...baby rabbits grow up to be big, tender, juicy.......never mind.

Anyway...I'd try to save em.

 

[mg357]

Intervene for all that is good and decent in this world Intervene!!!

 

[Rule3]

Circle of life and all that stuff, Yes, it hard to do nothing but that's the way nature works sometimes. It seems harsh and it is.
It's just that you happen to see it. What of all the others that are out there that you do not see, birds, rabbits whatever. There is a reason, what, I do not know but there is.

I do not believe they are on the endangered list.

Let it be.

 

[Jyezahn]

I'd say let nature take its course, but being that they're less than 8 feet from your doorstep, I'd be inclined to either relocate them, or find a bunny farm that could take care of them.

 

[kudzu3]

I have raised 4 rabbits and 3 squirrels from tiny, hairless babies. I've never done the stimulation thing with cotton balls, didn't even know about it. A tiny bottle from a pet supply store, baby formula and a heating pad is all that's needed ( and a lot of time). Keep them warm and fed and they will be fine.

 

[kozmic]

Sadly we hadn't seen any motion around the nest most of the day and that was just one of the babies earlier. I finally decided to check and all had died. I think most probably died with the cold of last night. They were removed and put into our ever-growing pet cemetery out back.

I don't think anything we would have done could have helped them.

 

[wyccad915]

that's nature for you. It sucks but it happens.

 

[deadin]

A human would have to simulate the same thing with wet cotton balls or something similar

Or be really weird.....

 

[Delos]

Life is a learning experience

So mother bunny thought making a den near your house was a safe place. Obviously she sniffed around and smelled no predators in that area. Obviously you take your dog in at night. Obviously she planned to spend many happy nights with her babies eating the green grass near your house. But she was wrong.

You watched the babies die and now you and wife feel guilty.

Life is a learning experience. Next time your wife will know exactly when to kick you out that back door to rescue bunnies. End of story.

 

[kamloops67]

you wanna take care of the rabbits george?

 

[Cocked & Locked]

You can do it!

I plowed up a nest of rabbits with my tractor a few years ago...momma rabbit didn't return.

I called the local county Agricultural Extension Agent and asked best way to keep them living. His advise was good and it worked.

Tractor Supply or farm & garden stores sell kitten formula (yep, kitten formula.) Feed them with a small "eye dropper." When they grow a little a small pet nursing bottle works. Warm the formula and feed the rabbits every 4-5 hours.

They are ready to set free when you take them outside and place them on the ground and they run away so fast you can't catch them.

It works...these all survived.

If it happens again, try this.

 

[kozmic]

So mother bunny thought making a den near your house was a safe place. Obviously she sniffed around and smelled no predators in that area. Obviously you take your dog in at night. Obviously she planned to spend many happy nights with her babies eating the green grass near your house. But she was wrong.

You watched the babies die and now you and wife feel guilty.

Life is a learning experience. Next time your wife will know exactly when to kick you out that back door to rescue bunnies. End of story.

With all due respect, your post is wrong on every imaginable level. End of story.

 

[snake803]

I hear they taste like rabbit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JIM..............................

 

[wyccad915]

I plowed up a nest of rabbits with my tractor a few years ago...momma rabbit didn't return.

I called the local county Agricultural Extension Agent and asked best way to keep them living. His advise was good and it worked.

Tractor Supply or farm & garden stores sell kitten formula (yep, kitten formula.) Feed them with a small "eye dropper." When they grow a little a small pet nursing bottle works. Warm the formula and feed the rabbits every 4-5 hours.

They are ready to set free when you take them outside and place them on the ground and they run away so fast you can't catch them.

It works...these all survived.

If it happens again, try this.

are you really sure they "survived" though? Seeing as they were babies when the mother abandoned them, they probably weren't taught how to forage, what animals that are dangerous (although this might be an instinct), and other such things...