Bunnies Uncovered
On Tuesday, Lewis (at my request) dug up and moved all the bushy plants that were in the “garden” just outside our front door. It was a large space that was constantly filled with weeds and baby maple trees. We don’t have time to maintain it, so the plan is to grow grass there for now. Lew will make a rock garden out of it in the future. On Wednesday, I went out at midday while Aiden napped, and began to rake the area (as best I could! ha!), when I saw beneath some spared myrtle, something furry move and disappear under some scrubby brush and dirt. I continued to see the earth there move all day and showed it to Lew when he came home. The area looked like an upside down bird nest with gray and white tufts of fur around it. Fearing that a baby animal was stranded, we carefully lifted the nest and saw several cuddly bunnies curled up together. Their eyes are open, their ears are standing up, and they have plenty of fur. Probably not far from weaning and going out on their own. Oh, we feel awful! We never would have done anything in the garden if we knew they were there.
Last night I laid two pieces of string in an “X” over the nest to see if mom comes to feed her babies. The string should appear disturbed if she does come back. This morning, no change. I checked the bunnies. They were warm and still appeared alert. One ran away and down the driveway. He was very difficult to catch (a good sign), but I finally was able to safely gather him up into my barely functioning hands. I placed him gently back with his brothers and sisters and covered them again with the nest. I put the string back and will watch for signs of mom. I replanted one of the big bushy plants we removed to provide privacy and a sense of safety for the babes and mom.
In my research about what to do in case they are orphaned, I came across some facts about domestic bunnies that I thought I’d pass along (see the text below) just to remind people that allowing domestic bunnies to reproduce often means that the babes will NOT end up in loving homes. Getting a bunny for a young child at Easter is a bad idea too. They are NOT seasonal ITEMS. They live many years and need constant care for their lifetime. Get a fake bunny instead! Much easier, cleaner, and no responsibility required. Some fake bunnies even sing and dance like the one Uncle Kevy got for Aiden this Easter!
-kara
The text below is from
http://www.rabbit.org/care/babies.html
“Rabbits that are put up for adoption, especially babies, are often “adopted” to feed predator pets, such as pythons. “Free to a good home” is not a good advertisement for a safe new place for them. People take “free” bunnies not only to feed predators, but less ethical persons take them to train their dogs to kill. Some use them for “religious” practices that use animal sacrifices, such as Santeria rites. Some take a “free” rabbit in order to eat it and others will kill it for their fur (pelt.)”