I hand-reared this baby...

[hlthe2b]

Last edited Wed Jul 17, 2019, 12:06 PM - Edit history (1)

Now she has twins of her own... Yeah, the garden is theirs. It is worth it!

I was reminded last night that I should have stressed that baby rabbits are notoriously difficult to hand-rear and thus one should never assume a baby rabbit is orphaned unless one sees the mother is dead (they routinely leave the nest much of the day, returning at night since baby rabbits only feed small amounts at most twice a day) The vast majority of "orphaned" rabbits don't make it because people tend to overstress them (thinking that like puppies and other young they need to feed every few hours), overheat them (babies are accustomed to staying warm outdoors with just the nest), feed them the wrong things like puppy formula (rather than goat's milk or Kitten Milk Replacement Formula (KMR) only with a bit of probiotics added), and most importantly don't know how to stimulate them to urinate/defecate which is rapidly deadly if not done correctly and successfully. I've had my own sad and unsuccessful efforts before, though I've been doing this since properly trained as a teen.

This one's mom was sadly hit by a car and after I "buried" her, I went looking for her nest, which as expected was under an overhang area underneath my house. Had I not known for certain the mom was dead, I would surely have left it there. Some have asked how I introduced it back into the outdoor environment--once the eyes were open, I made sure it spent time out in the garden in a protected setting and began introducing grass to eat shortly thereafter. It pretty much stayed out in the garden after that, in a little set off area until it was at least three weeks of age and readily eating what it foraged. It's own curiosity kicked in a few weeks later and it found its way under the garden fence into the front yard (and those of a couple of neighbors) and has done very well every since.

[Ohiogal]

1. As a rabbit lover....

I love this picture!!!!

[CatMor]

2. So sweet ..

I love the bunnies in my yard.

[MuseRider]

3. That is lovely.

How did you get her back into her habitat? It must have taken a lot of planning. I have seen a lot of failure but you did it. Impressive and kind, oh so kind. Be proud, a proud Grand!

[hlthe2b]

6. LOL. Her habitat is my yard. She's never gone more than a few houses away.

She has her little ones in a small enclosed and very protected area just under the front of my house, using the timothy hay I put out for her on snowy days as both food and nesting material.

BTW, my neighborhood is quite populated with wild rabbits. I love them, but have to work on the neighbors who often don't... All I ask is that they maintain a hiding spot for them when the sporadic hawk, owl, or coyotes come through.

[MuseRider]

8. I get all gooshy reading your post.

I raised the baby squirrels that came into the zoo when I worked there. It can be hard work. We released them on the zoo grounds, and the rabbits and birds etc. They would hang around for a while then find a sweetie and be gone. It was always a little sad. We were always grateful for the people who did not know what to do when they brought them to us. This was long before there were wild animal rescues anywhere.

Well done. Seriously, I am a bit weepy. LOL.

[hlthe2b]

13. I have tried to raise others, but as I'm sure you know, we aren't always successful.

When, despite best efforts, you lose them, it is really crushing.

So, I celebrate this little gal...

[MuseRider]

23. I am celebrating too.

So special!

[Honeycombe8]

24. There are no rabbits in my area. :( They'd be eaten by dogs & hawks.

I've thought about getting one or two, but since I'd have to make sure they couldn't get out, and because I have a dog, they'd have to have their own very safe, strong pen. I'm not sure rabbits would be happy with that, even if it were really large.

[hlthe2b]

33. Last night I thought about how I hadn't emphasized the need to leave rabbits in nest unless

absolutely sure they were orphaned and some of the other points I should have made. Knowing my own mixed results over the years, I should have gone into more detail on this and other aspects. Your posts reminded me, so I've now gone back and edited. I hope I reach some of the "right" folks, even this late.

[MuseRider]

34. That is great!

There is great info out there now but I don't think everyone thinks to check for it. It is always helpful to find things out. I look, I sure don't ever know what is right unless I check.

It would be great in the pet forum too.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. So jealous

[CousinIT]

7. Awwww. I have those little babies in my yard too!

They dislike mowers and the neighbor's dog but most afternoons I can see one or two of them nomming on my grass. I talk baby talk to them and move carefully around them. I can't get too close but they don't run when they see me. They know I'm bunny-friendly. So cute!

[emmaverybo]

9. You did and continue to do a beautiful job. She looks well contented with her life.

[George II]

10. A few years ago our cat befriended a rabbit - I was lucky to catch this picture...

They stared at each other for about a half hour. We have three living in our backyard this year.

[Demovictory9]

22. that cat isn't thinking "friendship"

[George II]

27. Yes, you're probably right. He spends about two hours every morning on that table....

...by the window, his tail swishing back and forth. That holly bush to the right is a haven for birds, we think they sit there and chirp at him just to annoy him! Its fun to watch.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

11. So beautiful and serene.

Thank you. Exactly what I needed today.......

[littlemissmartypants]

12. Bunnies are the best!

At night I watch them jump for bugs that circle my security lights. They can jump incredibly high, straight up. I have a recurring family that has a warren somewhere on the western part of the property. I love to come home and see them in the yard. I'm so glad that they have survived the coyotes. I love them so much!

[Scarsdale]

19. My son put out a night vision camera on the back patio.

We saw racoons & possums during the heavy winter. One day the snow melted and a large area of green grass was exposed. That night, here came the rabbits. One of them hopped a few feet, then sprang straight up in the air. He did it several times, we were amazed. Boy, that little guy was happy to be alive. Now I see two babies and a momma at dusk and dawn. Lovely creatures.

[littlemissmartypants]

20. They really are delightful. Thanks for the reply, Scarsdale. nt

[panader0]

14. Lots of bun-buns here on my land.

Also jackrabbits, some of which get quite big.

[hlthe2b]

15. What big ears he has--almost looks like the elusive...

Jackalope!

[flyingfysh]

16. Somerville MA has lots of wild rabbits now

I never saw any here before a couple of years ago. If I am outside at night, I frequently see one run across the sidewalk right in front of me.

Also, the Public Garden in Boston now has a rabbit problem. They are eating the rose buses, and the people maintaining the garden are trying to put fencing around the roses.

[hlthe2b]

17. Where wild populations become excessive there are usually cyclical Tularemia outbreaks

that knock them back down. That is the case out here, which run in about 5-10 year cycles.

I don't know, but having to fence off the roses seems a minor inconvenience to me, but then I absolutely adore wildlife. Some of my neighbors feel distinctly different.

[Submariner]

21. I used to fish in Alewife Brook behind Dilboy Field

We didn't have bunnies in what was called Slumerville then, but we did have water rats the size of a daschund.

I used to see Guinea pigs people let loose in Boston Common burrowed in some interesting places. Probably still there.

[58Sunliner]

18. What a sweetie. I have an opossum who naps on my porch chair. He likes the cushion.

[Honeycombe8]

25. Where did you get those blue rabbit statues? nt

[hlthe2b]

26. Tuesday Morning, years ago.

I wasn't really sure if others could tell what they were...

[Honeycombe8]

31. They're great. Good addition to your rabbit haven.

[Fla Dem]

28. Lucky you.

There used to be a lot of rabbits in my area, but over the years they’ve disappeared. Cats and development. Had squirrels too, but the last few years, they’ve disappeared too. Think some of my neighbors have put out poison because they got into their attics.

[hlthe2b]

29. That would break my heart... n/t

[shenmue]

30. Mrs. Bunbun Bunny

[Rhiannon12866]

32. Kudos! And what a beautiful photo!

We have bunnies around here that I often see in the yard, but I never can get close enough to get a good pic. They are so adorable - and yours is no exception!