abandoned baby rabbits, what to do?

Never get weak

Every few years my back couple of acres gets flooded with cute rabbits. They bolt or circle and follow my riding lawn mower. They like the new green grass left behind after my mower does its job.

At some point the very large owls around here start taking a few. The owls even get a few small dogs.

But the hawks are the biggest threat. When they migrate south, just before winter, I might have one trembling rabbit under heavy brush.

I doubt if any wild rabbit ever dies of old age.

With foxes all the rabbits must do is outrun the other rabbits. There always seems to be other rabbits to outrun.

But hawks fly deathly fast through rows of trees and down between brush. A scream n the dusk is not a Banshee. And it is illegal to shoot “raptors” in farming country. Easy to get negative on this issue.

But then another few summers comes and goes and you are up to your ankles in rabbits again.

Hawks are only good for the one really evil pest that tries to tunnel into your attic when over populated.
NPWRC :: Fox Squirrel

Do not look directly into its eyes or you will fall under its spell and your trigger finger will grow weak.
 
We "rescued" four after Mama poked her head up under the mower.:eek: Fed 'em kitten formula. Three died within two days. The fourth was quickly joined by a week old male kitten. They spent the first month of their lives together until the rabbit died of unknown causes. The cat lived a good long life.

Long story short, even if you do try to save them, you might not be able to save them. Do what your conscience leads you to do, but realize that they may still not make it.
 
I tried to save 7 this spring, 4 died after a few days but 3 seemed to be doing good but ended up dieing on day 7. I fed them kitten milk replacement every few hours and kept them warm but its hard to duplicate Mother Nature I guess
 
Blam...Blam

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...

Nah..I doubt they all survived. Critters probably got some and I probably rolled at least two of them later on with my LeFever Nitro Special 16 gauge.
 
Hawks are only good for the one really evil pest that tries to tunnel into your attic when over populated.

Do I detect a touch of dislike/fear for something that is a better predator than you? I ask out of philosophical interest, not to flame or criticise.
 
Yup, did not know it was obvious

Do I detect a touch of dislike/fear for something that is a better predator than you? I ask out of philosophical interest, not to flame or criticise.

Yup, I did not know it was obvious. I will try to cloak it better next time.
(After excessive scratching in my attic over porch area, I live-trapped a few of them “tree rat” squirrel rodents and let them loose at local bird refuge that has no squirrels but adequate Raptors. I think the raptors followed me home after the third time of being their candy man).
 
Yup, I did not know it was obvious. I will try to cloak it better next time.

No worries. I am always intrigued at the reactions and attitudes of others towards wildlife. For example, my late wife worked with a girl who got woogie just looking at photos of ANY non-domesticated animal that was not in a cage. The idea that I was close enough to two jackrabbits to take their picture just freaked her out. Then there was the girl I dated in England who extended familiarities to spiders that would surely lead to lethal consequences in more exotic countries.

(After excessive scratching in my attic over porch area, I live-trapped a few of them “tree rat” squirrel rodents and let them loose at local bird refuge that has no squirrels but adequate Raptors. I think the raptors followed me home after the third time of being their candy man).

They're not daft. :D My Dad discovered that while driving slowly (20-25 ish) along country lanes in England in the twilight, owls would pace his car to see what he flushed.
 
elmer+fudd.jpg
 

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