Need HELP - caring for wild cottontail

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LuckyClovette

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Jul 21, 2013
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Dutchess County, NY
I need some help if you can offer it. As I was driving yesterday I saw the tinniest thing hopping across the road. It could only be 1 of 2 things. An extremely small bunny or a frog. It was a bunny. Such a tiny bunny. His/Her eyes are still closed. Why on earth was this little guy, who can't even see, crossing the road all by himself!

Of course you can probably guess that I took him in. But I just don't know what to do! I big part of me wishes I never saw him. But I did, and of course my heart told me to take care of him.

Either way, I need major help. I read somewhere to get kitten replacement milk. & I heard that they only feed once a day (which I think is insane!). He wanted nothing to do with the Kitten Replacement Milk last night. And even though they only feed once a day, I tried again this morning and he/she seemed sooo much more receptive and seemed hungry. He/she slept in some fleece last night and he/she did leave some little poopies behind (glad to see).

Can anyone help?
 
Do you have pictures of it? Rabbits leave their mothers at a rather young age. He may be fine to be released as crazy as it sounds. It is hard to keep wild bunnies a live, and if he is too young I would suggest looking for a wildlife rehab center.
 
There is no way it can survive on it's own if it's eyes aren't open yet, as it should still be nursing from it's mom. The only way would be if you could find the nest and put it back. Otherwise it needs to be hand raised to give it a chance of surviving. Like mentioned, a wildlife rehab is the best thing, but if you don't have one near you this link has lots of helpful info on hand raising wild baby rabbits.

http://www.2ndchance.info/bunnies.htm
 
Thanks for the replies. I do not believe this bunny left his/her nest. I am 99% sure something happened to mom. This little guy was hopping on the street of a fairly busy road. His/her eyes are still closed. He/she has taken Kitten Replacement Milk from a dropper (willingly).

I have stimulated his/her "area" so he/she will defecate. I have been seeing the most itsy-bitsy droppings.

My plan is to find a Wildlife Rehab person. From what I read, it is not only cruel, but illegal (I didn't know it was illegal) to keep a wild animal.
 
It is very illegal to keep any wild animal. Pretty much anywhere you live.

Wild baby rabbits leave the nest MUCH earlier then a typical domestic rabbit. If the eyes are still closed, it wouldn't have had the direction or ability to even attempt to cross the road, they don't really hop, it would be slowly crawling in 1 spot unable to really get anywhere. They develop very quickly making me believe the eyes are in-fact open. Babies do not just leave the nest. If something happened to mom, the babies would remain in the nest.

Its always best to leave wild rabbits where they are, regardless of the situation. We often do more damage then good despite what our heart says. The simplest things like offering rich milk to a rabbit that's weaned or coming in contact with our germs and our environment is very detrimental to wild bunnys and they stand very poor chances of survival.

Since you've all ready given this one milk its best to get it to a rahaber ASAP.
 
Yes - hopping was not the right word. This guy definitely walks. He/she has no sense of direction. He/she walks right into things. I don't know what stage this guy is at. All I can say is that his/her eyes are definitely closed.
 
Please take this bunny to a wildlife rehab asap. I used to volunteer in a wildlife rescue and its SO important to get them to someone who knows what to do in this kind of situation as they can die literally in a matter of hours.
Wild baby rabbits have extremely delicate digestive systems and even stress can be an instant killer!
I know it can be difficult to let them go but it's for the best of there is any way it'll survive or be released back into the wild. Wild animals rarely deal with domestication well.
 
My plan today is to call a wildlife Rehab. It's going to be very difficult for me. I started pondering that this little guy could have full reign of the house with a litterbox. and I began thinking that I'd be able to give him the coolest life. and I started thinking that every person reading this would shun me for even thinking about this.

As far as little Bunny Fu-Fu's state. He is truly doing better than I could have ever imagined. His/Her eyes are still closed. He/She is peeing & pooing regularly. He/she is eating very very good.

I've attached some picture of the little tike :pet:

Bunny.jpg

Bunny2.jpg
 
He's very cute! I'm glad he's doing well. It looks like he'll be opening his eyes any day now. I know, it's so tempting to want to keep them because they're so cute. I think you would find as he got older that they just become too wild to be a domestic pet. The good thing is if you have fallen in love with bunnies and don't already have one, there are always plenty of domestic rabbits out there needing a home :)
 
JBun, I find myself wishing I hadn't found this guy because now I am so torn. I am just falling in love with him! I've always had little critters, but never a bunny. Growing up I had gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs.... Today I have my sugar gliders. I am very surprise that he is eating from me (not "me" literally) and he is so adventurous. I'm going to miss him dearly.
 
Odds are this rabbit WILL NOT survive if you try and keep it as a pet.
It will become aggressive.
It is beyond Illegal.
It is not safe for the rabbits health.
It is not safe for your health.
It is VERY dangerous for your sugar gliders.

A wild rabbit baby is very different from a domestic rabbit baby in many ways.

Please take it to a wildlife rahaber.
 
I signed on to give an update on my little bunny. I contacted my vet that I go to for my sugar gliders. They have a wildlife rehabilitator on staff (who has worked with my sugar gliders and I am glad to know that this little guy will be with her). The vet said they would be glad to take him in. It is sooo bitter-sweet. I was truly falling in love with this little one and was enjoying caring for him. But, I don't want the fate of this bunny to fall on me. If he doesn't make it, I would be deeply saddened. I will ask the wildlife rehabilitator to keep me posted on this little one's status. This guy is really doing well from what I see. He has an awesome appetite and has been peeing & pooing on his own. Right before I left for work. One of his eyes opened!!!! How amazing!
 
That's great news! I'm sure it's nice to actually know the person who will be caring for him, and that you will be able to get updates on how he is doing.
 
So glad you made that decision. You've already given this little guy a chance he probably wouldn't have had being on his own. Even though its tough to let him go, he will likely be happier in his intended environment. You can always find a domesticated bunny that would love to live with you though!
 
It's adorable, so glad the little bunny has the best shot at rehabilitation! For future reference; if you notice the bunny has a little white spot of hair on its head. Once they are weaned that goes away if you happen to come across any others. The ones with no white can manage without intervention.
 
Thanks Zeroshero, that's good to know. An Update on the Bunny: This bunny is safe & sound with the Wildlife Rehab person. The bunny is a little girl. soooo cute. I haven't gotten any updates since dropping her off yesterday. Thanks everyone for your feedback! I really hope she makes it! I've missed her so much since dropping her off. However, there is relief in knowing her fate is in a specialist's hands because I would be deeply saddened if something happened to her when she was under my care. I'm anxious to get an update about this little one. :happybunny:
 
It may be hard but you've done the right thing. It wouldn't have survived without the care and its not right to keep a wild animal as a pet. Now he'll live and will probably be able to be released into the wild when he's old/strong enough :)
 
I'm not sure if anyone would like an update on this bunny. I called the vet today to see if she made it through the night... and she did! I hope she continues to grow & be well. I will continue to call the wildlife rehabilitator for updates.:brown-bunny :mrsthumper:
 
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