Kara Lynn .NET Blog

Yes! I woke up yesterday morning and went right to the bathroom window from where I could see the bunny nest. The strings had moved! They were strewn about no longer resembling the straight and neat “X” I had made with them the night before! Wow! I was so relieved! From all I’ve read it seems that any substitute for what a mother rabbit provides her little ones is a poor substitute, and that 90% of hand-fed baby rabbits don’t make it. They are incredibly delicate with very specific and unusual dietary needs. The messed up strings indicated to me that mom had been to the nest and had fed her darlings.

Later, after I had fed and cared for my own little one, I looked out the window at the nest with my binoculars so I could see bunny activity up close. I was so pleased to see the little furry critters nosing around under the bush that I had returned to the garden for their benefit! It had made a difference! They had someplace private, cool, and safe from which they could begin their venture into the big world. I saw them stretching their little necks and sniffing at the leaves on the bush with wriggly little noses. Their movements were much more coordinated today. They relaxed and puttered about under that bush all day.

This morning the bunnies were out of the nest and out of the garden. I was not worried about them… well maybe I was a little worried. It’s a big world out there for such tiny innocent babes. All day long we spotted them around the driveway. One found his favorite place to be under Lew’s rusty old Subaru nuzzled up to the right rear tire. Another one favored the irises along the driveway.

By about 6:30 this evening, two of them were back in the garden under the bush next to their nest. They seemed quite content. I was able to take a quick couple of photos and then leave them in their peaceful state.

-kara

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.)”