Trying to save a young Wild Cottontail!

[rupertismygod]

Hello all!

I have a young Wild Cottontail rabbit living under my shed, in my backyard. The rabbit, whom I call Rupert, has been living in my backyard for about a good week now.

Here's the problem.Yesterday, the cat chased the little rabbit intothe hole, under my shed,where the cat could not reach him.

However, I have not seen the little rabbit once today, and I'm afraid he either left my backyard, or died of a heart attack or shock. Or maybe he is still hiding in the hole, because he is so afraid?

What do you guys think happend to him?

I'm now thinking of placing a cage near the whole to trap the rabbit and bring him inside and have him live in my house as a pet, so that he won't be hunted.

Is this a good idea? I really want to make sure the little rabbit is safe, as I've grown attached to him/her the past week.

My other option is, I kill my neighbour's cat. I would have no problem killing that **** evil cat, I hate it anyways.

 

[Bunnykinz]

I think you should leave it alone a while longer. Disturbing his hole could put him in more shock if he is still alive. And please DON'T kill the cat.

 

[hotelcali2202]

are you trolling a rabbit forum?

 

[rupertismygod]

hotelcali2202 wrote:

are you trolling a rabbit forum?

How am I trolling?!

I'm asking for some humble advice here, with a real situtation I'm trying to deal with...

And to answer your arrogant question, NO, I'm not trolling.

 

[Luluznewz]

Under no circumstances should you kill the cat. That is really messed up. Cats are predators. They are doing nothing wrong by chasing, and even killing things that run from them. It is exceptionally silly of people to blame them for following instincts.

As far as the little rabbit goes, I think maybe you should just leave it alone. A wild rabbit will not make a good pet. Is it a really really young baby rabbit? Or is it just small? If it is an adult (or an older baby) leave it be. It will be miserable and not thrive in captivity.

 

[rupertismygod]

Luluznewz wrote:

Under no circumstances should you kill the cat. That is really messed up. Cats are predators. They are doing nothing wrong by chasing, and even killing things that run from them. It is exceptionally silly of people to blame them for following instincts.

As far as the little rabbit goes, I think maybe you should just leave it alone. A wild rabbit will not make a good pet. Is it a really really young baby rabbit? Or is it just small? If it is an adult (or an older baby) leave it be. It will be miserable and not thrive in captivity.

That rabbit is rather small. However, I saw it's mothercome by about 3 days ago, it looked as if she was checking up on him. I'd say the rabbit is about 3-4 weeks old.

I know it's not good to keep a wild rabbit in captivity, but my intetions are only good. I just want to keep it safe.

If the cat wasn't around, then it would be no problem.

As for the cat, it's my own personal decision. If I decide I kill it, because I consider it to be a nuisance, than that's my own business. There is nothing "messed up about it". Humans are predators and hunt too, fyi. Hence, I'd just be following my instict.


I'm sorry if I offended anyone, with regards tothe catsituation.

Iregret mentioning anything about killing the cat.

 

[missyscove]

I see that this is your first post, so let me welcome you to RO! Please introduce yourself with a topic in our introductions forum so we can get to know you a little better.

First off, please don't kill the cat.
Secondly, if the rabbit is injured, then take it to a vet or rehabber, but if the rabbit is perfectly happy, please leave it alone. Wild rabbits are best left where they belong - in the wild.
It is possible that the rabbit is hiding in his hole, it's also possible that the rabbit is hiding from you just as much as it is from the cat. The rabbit likely, and should for his own safety, sees humans as predators. Bringing the rabbit inside would be extremely stressful for him. While we have had members who have made pets out of young, injured cottontails, bringing a healthy cottontail into your home would likely do more harm than good.
I certainly sympathize with your feelings. I love to observe all animals - wild and domestic- and often stop and watch a squirrel for 5 minutes and make myself late to dinner. I can't even count the number of times I've injured myself because I've been distracted by a magnificent raptor.
If you're really concerned about the cat, perhaps you could talk to your neighbor about keeping it inside.
If you want a pet rabbit, please consider one of the many rabbits living in shelters or rescues who belong in a home but are homeless.

 

[missyscove]

Also, I'm not sure about the laws in Canada, but here in the US it is illegal to keep a wild rabbit in your home unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabber.
I'm also fairly confident that it's illegal to kill someone else's pet cat.

 

[rupertismygod]

missyscove wrote:

I see that this is your first post, so let me welcome you to RO! Please introduce yourself with a topic in our introductions forum so we can get to know you a little better.

First off, please don't kill the cat.
Secondly, if the rabbit is injured, then take it to a vet or rehabber, but if the rabbit is perfectly happy, please leave it alone. Wild rabbits are best left where they belong - in the wild.
It is possible that the rabbit is hiding in his hole, it's also possible that the rabbit is hiding from you just as much as it is from the cat. The rabbit likely, and should for his own safety, sees humans as predators. Bringing the rabbit inside would be extremely stressful for him. While we have had members who have made pets out of young, injured cottontails, bringing a healthy cottontail into your home would likely do more harm than good.
I certainly sympathize with your feelings. I love to observe all animals - wild and domestic- and often stop and watch a squirrel for 5 minutes and make myself late to dinner. I can't even count the number of times I've injured myself because I've been distracted by a magnificent raptor.
If you're really concerned about the cat, perhaps you could talk to your neighbor about keeping it inside.
If you want a pet rabbit, please consider one of the many rabbits living in shelters or rescues who belong in a home but are homeless.

Firstly, thanks for the warm welcome, Missyscove.



Letme explain the situation a little better.

The young cottontail has been living in my backyard for a week now, more specificallyin a hole under the front of my shed.

I have been watching/observing the young rabbit from my window, and I don't go outside until I see him go back in his hole, as I do not want to scare him off.

I never intended to make this rabbit a pet, I understand that the best habitat for him, is outside in the naturalwild. However, after seeing the cat chase him into his whole yesterday, I wanted to bring the rabbit inside to keep him safe. Yet, this will probably harm him emotionally, which I don't want.

By the way, I haven't done anything yet. I'm still assuming that the rabbit is in his hole, hiding,but I'm not sure. Like I said, Ididn't see him once today. Usually I see him at least 2-3 times a day, generally in the morning and just before dawn. For all I know, he could have ran off to find a new location. Or he may be dead in his hole, due to shock or a heart attack. I really hope he is just hiding in his hole, I have actually grown attached to this little rabbit. I even gave him a name, Rupert.

Once again, I should not have mentioned my hatred for the cat, since it has offended many of you.

Personally, I hate this cat. It's not even my cat, it's my neighbour's cat. This isn't the first incident with this cat. Once before, he climbed into my tree and attacked a mother robin caring for her babies. I don't want to see this type ofbehaviour, asit sickens me,especially in my ownbackyard from another person's pet. I will warn my neighbour thatI don't want to see his cat in my backyard. However, if that doesn't work, then I will just have to take matters into my own hands. Like I said, I really hate watching Animals being attacked or killed, it's a disturbing site for me emotionally.

My primary intentions are not tokill the cat, but I will do whatever it takes to protect that rabbit, and if it requires me to kill the cat, than so be it.

I'm also a Vegan, for animal rights purposes.

I know me being a vegan contradicts the fact that I want to see this cat die, but I don't even consider this cat to be an innocent animal. To me, it's just a vicious predator.


I know this sounds crazy, and it probably looks like I'm getting too emotionally invested in this, but I just am. For some unexplainablereason, I just really care about this rabbit. Sorry.

 

[tonyshuman]

If the cottontail's eyes are open, it is old enough to fend for itself.

If the cat is a real problem, which is what it sounds like, you should call the Humane Society or ASPCA. Usually, a pet owner legally has to keep their animal on their property and if it's found off the property it's considered "at large" and a stray, and the officers can take it. Then the owners will have to get a stern talking to about keeping their cat on their property if they go pick it up from the shelter. It's for the cat's own safety too, it could run into the road or find a big mean dog.

Unfortunately, we have to take the approach that Rupert is a wild animal and if there's nothing medically wrong with him, Nature has equipped him with what he needs to survive. The sad fact is that many young cottontails don't make it. The cat is dangerous and potentially in danger if it's roaming free, but a coyote or some other wild predator could just as well find the bunny.

If he has been scratched or bitten by the cat, it would be best to get him to a wildlife rehabber, ASAP.

 

[rupertismygod]

tonyshuman wrote:

If the cottontail's eyes are open, it is old enough to fend for itself.

If the cat is a real problem, which is what it sounds like, you should call the Humane Society or ASPCA. Usually, a pet owner legally has to keep their animal on their property and if it's found off the property it's considered "at large" and a stray, and the officers can take it. Then the owners will have to get a stern talking to about keeping their cat on their property if they go pick it up from the shelter. It's for the cat's own safety too, it could run into the road or find a big mean dog.

Unfortunately, we have to take the approach that Rupert is a wild animal and if there's nothing medically wrong with him, Nature has equipped him with what he needs to survive. The sad fact is that many young cottontails don't make it. The cat is dangerous and potentially in danger if it's roaming free, but a coyote or some other wild predator could just as well find the bunny.

If he has been scratched or bitten by the cat, it would be best to get him to a wildlife rehabber, ASAP.

Thank you, for your great suggestions.

I don't think the rabbit, Rupert, has been scratched. Yesterday I witnessed him being chased into his hole by the cat. The cat was literarily a hair away from catching him, but fortunately, the cat never laid his paws on him. However, since the rabbit was chased into his hole, I have not seen him since. Which has been just over 24 hours now. I hope he's alright.

I will call the Humane Society tomorrow, if I don't see him. Maybe I'm wrong, and he is injured or in a massive state of shock, which is restricting him from leaving his hole. Perhaps, they can get him out of his hole and fix him if he is in fact injured?

Fortunately, there are no coyotes around here. The only real threat to the rabbit, Rupert, is a raccoon or a cat. However, I have not seen a raccoon in ages. The only threat right now is that cat.

I will also notify the Humane Society about the cat, perhaps they can finally take him away.

 

[tonyshuman]

You could certainly ask the Humane Society to have a look. If he is injured but staying in his hole, it may be hard for them to get him out without injuring him further. They will be able to contact their wildlife rescue people, though, and that would be the best--getting the experts involved. Usually, the cottontails we have here don't dig proper burrows like the European cottontails, so he may just have a small den under there, that it may not be hard to get out of. He may also have abandoned that den while you weren't looking because now a predator knows where it is.

 

[rupertismygod]

tonyshuman wrote:

He may also have abandoned that den while you weren't looking because now a predator knows where it is.

Unfortunately, I'm starting tothink that's whathappend.

Life is so harsh and sad...

 

[SnootyPuffs]

I hate to level with you but wild animals aren't too keen on being messed with by people. Continuing with the facts, rabbits = prey animal that are forced to live or perish under natural selection with or without human assistance.

This is a young rabbit. Once out of the nest, they hide/roam in the area for a period of time.

In my opinion, if you want to try your best to give the bunny a shot at prospering, go ahead and intervene but do it right. With the bunny you've mentioned, it's likely old enough to be out of the nest and roaming on it's own. In that case, I'd personally do nothing at all but enjoy watching it. I've saved wild baby bunnies before. I was pretty lucky, got one set off to a wildlife rehab specialist. That was a lot of work! I was feeding bunnies for 2 days. You have to be careful how this is done so they don't aspirate the food.

Whatever you do? I personally wouldn't be inclined to think that a wild bunny wants to live a domestic life. They're not domesticated. They do stress out in confinement (know from experience). They do truly want to remain free to act at will despite how harsh or short their lives seem to be.

This may sound contrary to "official" advice but don't bother with animal control or the "humane society". Trust me on this. They are inundated with calls for wild baby animals during Spring. They'll only save what they have space to save. They put importance on wildlife with lower numbers while being lax on species that are thriving. In fact, knowing this first hand, I DON'T contact them to take the animal unless it's ill or injured (even in that case, a local vet is likely a better and quicker option). If you contact a rehab specialist, they MIGHT help it, or could be overwhelmed at this time thus will take the same pattern as animal control. That's been my experience. Things may be different where you're located.

 

[Daenerys]

earthling wrote:

I am also a vegan, for animal rights purposes.

I know me being a vegan contradicts the fact that I want to see this cat die, but I don't even consider this cat to be an innocent animal. To me, it's just a vicious predator.

That is horrible!!! The cat is only doing what its instincts tell it to, because as a wild animal that's what it would do to survive. Cats aren't vegetarians. They are carnivores. If you are for animal rights you can't pick and choose, that is hypocritical. Cats have as much a right to live as they were born to as any other animal, rabbits included. If you don't allow animals to keep to their natural instincts, then you will just upset the balance of the entire world. If rabbits did not have their natural predators, they would become overpopulated fairly quickly and they would all die of starvation because there isn't enough food to go around. There are predators and prey for a reason - its all about keeping the natural balance of things.

Do not hate this cat just because its following its natural instincts. If you must hate someone, hate the owners who do not keep their cat on their property.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Before we moved here I used to have a fish pond with some really nice Koi and a bunch of friendly fish. One of my Koi went missing, so I got a trap and took the offending cat to the animal shelter. Figured that if it cost them to get the cat back, they might keep better track of it.

 

[rupertismygod]

Daenerys wrote:

That is horrible!!! The cat is only doing what its instincts tell it to, because as a wild animal that's what it would do to survive. Cats aren't vegetarians. They are carnivores. If you are for animal rights you can't pick and choose, that is hypocritical. Cats have as much a right to live as they were born to as any other animal, rabbits included. If you don't allow animals to keep to their natural instincts, then you will just upset the balance of the entire world. If rabbits did not have their natural predators, they would become overpopulated fairly quickly and they would all die of starvation because there isn't enough food to go around. There are predators and prey for a reason - its all about keeping the natural balance of things.

Do not hate this cat just because its following its natural instincts. If you must hate someone, hate the owners who do not keep their cat on their property.

Humans are also Carnivores and Predators.So by killing the cat, I wouldn't be in the wrong. Humans have hunted for thousands of years. People today still eat beef, chicken, pork and fish. People also hunt for hobby purposes. Peopleof oriental descent actually eat cats too. Iguess I'd just be following my "natural human instincts". Wewouldn't want to disrupt that "natural cycle"now,would we? My instincts tell me I should eliminate the cat for good, sorry I can’t go against the nature of my instincts.

Your comments are irrational, andhave no relation to the main topic. The intention of my thread was, asking for some advice regardingto the young wild cottontail, which is endangered. I never asked for your stupid opinion about me.

I don't evenknowwhy you bothered to post.Clearly, the onlyintention of your postwasto criticize me. You didn’t give a single piece of advice regarding the young cottontail.

 

[Daenerys]

earthling wrote:

Daenerys wrote:

That is horrible!!! The cat is only doing what its instincts tell it to, because as a wild animal that's what it would do to survive. Cats aren't vegetarians. They are carnivores. If you are for animal rights you can't pick and choose, that is hypocritical. Cats have as much a right to live as they were born to as any other animal, rabbits included. If you don't allow animals to keep to their natural instincts, then you will just upset the balance of the entire world. If rabbits did not have their natural predators, they would become overpopulated fairly quickly and they would all die of starvation because there isn't enough food to go around. There are predators and prey for a reason - its all about keeping the natural balance of things.

Do not hate this cat just because its following its natural instincts. If you must hate someone, hate the owners who do not keep their cat on their property.

Humans are also Carnivores and Predators.So by killing the cat, I wouldn't be in the wrong. Humans have hunted for thousands of years. People today still eat beef, chicken, pork and fish. People also hunt for hobby purposes. Peopleof oriental descent actually eat cats too. Iguess I'd just be following my "natural human instincts". Wewouldn't want to disrupt that "natural cycle"now,would we? My instincts tell me I should eliminate the cat for good, sorry I can’t go against the nature of my instincts.

Your comments are irrational, andhave no relation to the main topic. The intention of my thread was, asking for some advice regardingto the young wild cottontail, which is endangered. I never asked for your stupid opinion about me.

I don't evenknowwhy you bothered to post.Clearly, the onlyintention of your postwasto criticize me. You didn’t give a single piece of advice regarding the young cottontail.

I was advising you not to kill the cat. And no, killing a cat because you don't like it is not following your natural instincts. Humans have rational thought, we are not mere beasts following instinct. Hunting for hobby is not instinct, its sport. Which I find disgusting. The cat hunts to eat, not for sport or just because it doesn't like something.

My comments are completely rational. This was never meant to be an inflamatory post, but apparently you took it that way. I was just advising you not to kill the cat, as its done nothing wrong.

You want advice on the cottontail? Leave the rabbit alone. It can look after itself.

 

[rupertismygod]

Update!

The young wild cottontail is safe. I witnessed him this morning in my backyard, just outside his hole under my shed. He looks healthy and vibrant. He was eating grass and dandelions; he was also running around near my shrubs and plants.

So, I decided to spend about two hours this morning outside on my balcony, observing the cottontail. However, guess who decided to show up? You guessed it, that darn cat! He was in his hunting position, and had no clue I was on the balcony. Fortunately I was there. I ran down the balcony and chased after the cat, as he darted off away in fear. Thiswas the third time in four days.


You see, I have a large backyard and it’s all fenced off. However, the fence is a wooden fence, and it’s elevated from the ground. Basically, any wildlife can crawl under the fence and enter the backyard. That’s what the cat has been doing the past three out of four days.

So then, I decided to go the hardware store to purchase some chicken wire. I basically caged off the bottom part of the fence, where it wasopen,and now nothing can enter in or out of my backyard through the bottom part of the fence. It took me at least 5 hours to complete the whole fencing of the backyard. I’m going to keep the chicken wire up until the young cottontail has grown to his full size. My backyard is large and wide, so he has a lot of room to move. It’s so big; he only uses about a quarter of the yard. He uses the hole (he must've dug)under my shed as shelter, and also likes to hide and run around in my plants and shrubs (just outside his hole). He seems quite happy. However, he was hiding from me, while I was outside working & caging off the openness under the fence. Yet, I understand that this is only normal, as he probably considers me as a predator. Too bad, humans can't communicate with wildlife, otherwise I'd tell him I'm only here to defend him, and keep him safe.

I’m also going to put a bowl of water outside, so that he can drink. I don’t know whether it is a good idea, if I should feed him or not. My mom put some lettuce outside on the grass, just near his territory. We’ll see if he eats it.

Hopefully, this allworks out.ray:

I'm also verythankfulfor those of you, who replied andgave me some great advice regarding the cottontail, Rupert (the name I've given him). Much of your advice was helpful, thanks a bunch!
:sunshine:

 

[Daenerys]

Nancy McClelland wrote:

Before we moved here I used to have a fish pond with some really nice Koi and a bunch of friendly fish. One of my Koi went missing, so I got a trap and took the offending cat to the animal shelter. Figured that if it cost them to get the cat back, they might keep better track of it.

If you have any more problems with the cat (it could still climb the fence if its determined enough) I would recommend you do this.

Otherwise, good to hear the little bun is doing alright! :biggrin: