thebuch
New Member
Hello everyone,
I've got an issue that I need some guidance on. There is a litter (correct term? I don't even know) of 5 baby rabbits just outside my home. I noticed them about a week and a half ago, 5 of them in a little hole. I've kept an eye out for them, and "mom" has definitely been around taking care of them. Well, today was a vey hot day and they finally decided to venture out. My wife and I noticed that one of them was laying strangely, with both hind legs out to one side. It doesn't appear to have any function in the hind legs, although despite being slightly thinner than the others (certainly doesn't look malnourished) I must say it doesn't appear to be in any pain. It is able to get around without too much trouble, getting in and out of the hole with the other four. I did see it nibbling on grass while out of the hole. At a week and a half old, I assumed they were strictly on milk yet, but okay.
I called the local emergency animal clinic, and they provided me with phone numbers of people who may be better able to assist me, but as of yet I've not been able to get a hold of anyone. They did say that they could perform "humane euthanization", which may or may not be a good idea, I do not know.
My question is, should I just let nature run its course? I've taken an interest in these little buggers, and for reasons I can't understand it's just a little difficult watching this. I know it's probably fairly common in nature for baby rabbits to meet an early demise, and if they had been born 50 feet away I would never have even known they'd existed. I went outside just now to take a peek, and there all 5 were, back in the hole, just looking at me. The last thing I want to do is interfere in a way that would expose the remaining little ones to harm or possible abandonment. What would you do?
I've got an issue that I need some guidance on. There is a litter (correct term? I don't even know) of 5 baby rabbits just outside my home. I noticed them about a week and a half ago, 5 of them in a little hole. I've kept an eye out for them, and "mom" has definitely been around taking care of them. Well, today was a vey hot day and they finally decided to venture out. My wife and I noticed that one of them was laying strangely, with both hind legs out to one side. It doesn't appear to have any function in the hind legs, although despite being slightly thinner than the others (certainly doesn't look malnourished) I must say it doesn't appear to be in any pain. It is able to get around without too much trouble, getting in and out of the hole with the other four. I did see it nibbling on grass while out of the hole. At a week and a half old, I assumed they were strictly on milk yet, but okay.
I called the local emergency animal clinic, and they provided me with phone numbers of people who may be better able to assist me, but as of yet I've not been able to get a hold of anyone. They did say that they could perform "humane euthanization", which may or may not be a good idea, I do not know.
My question is, should I just let nature run its course? I've taken an interest in these little buggers, and for reasons I can't understand it's just a little difficult watching this. I know it's probably fairly common in nature for baby rabbits to meet an early demise, and if they had been born 50 feet away I would never have even known they'd existed. I went outside just now to take a peek, and there all 5 were, back in the hole, just looking at me. The last thing I want to do is interfere in a way that would expose the remaining little ones to harm or possible abandonment. What would you do?
ray:
