Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum DIET & CARE HELP ASAP! Domestic or wild?!

Viewing 30 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • breannaloo
      Participant
      63 posts Send Private Message

        A friend of mine found this bun on her back porch, almost being destroyed by her cats. She put it back out, and apparently the cats got ahold of it again and it ended up on her porch a second time. Now, she’s brought it inside in an old cage she has. Everyone knows me as the bunny lady around here, and I’d be more than happy to care care of her while I find her a new home (I already have four bunnies). However, she looks like she may be wild? Then again her ears look so dwarf-like. She definitely looks young, though!

        Help! Is she wild or domestic?! Please.

        Thanks in advance!


      • breannaloo
        Participant
        63 posts Send Private Message

          The more I look at this picture I see the face shape, body, and front legs of a wild bun. But, still let me know you’re opinions.


        • Jessie1990
          Participant
          393 posts Send Private Message

            What area are you from? It doesn’t look like a cotton tail from the mid-west US. I have seen plenty of babies because my parents live out in the country and we had to take plenty away from a cat they used to have (he became a mostly indoor cat in his old age). It’s head is wierd shaped, unless that is fur. Cotton tails do have fairly small ears when they are VERY young. I’m not really sure so I would wait for other opinions


          • Roberta
            Participant
            4355 posts Send Private Message

              I’d say possibly feral domestic. It looks like our wild bunnies in Australia which are from domestic rabbits.
              The ears and body shape say Dwarf to me which is not a wild breed.


            • breannaloo
              Participant
              63 posts Send Private Message

                I’m from Florida. We have wild rabbits here occasionally and they don’t look like that. Also, most wild rabbits bolt away from humans and apparently this one won’t leave her alone! I’m not sure what to do. :/ Either way, I may go get it because obviously her cats keep getting it. If I find out it’s wild I’ll figure out where to release it, or take it to a wildlife center, or something, especially if it’s hurt from the cats. I just hope it’s mom isn’t looking for it because I know they only nurse a couple of times a day. I’ve never seen a wild one this young, that’s why I’m concerned. She said it fits in her palm, it’s that little.


              • breannaloo
                Participant
                63 posts Send Private Message

                  Thanks Roberta, the ears are what keeps taking me back to domestic, as well.


                • Roberta
                  Participant
                  4355 posts Send Private Message

                    If it is that small it could also be the breed. Ask the lady to have a look about as the nest would still be there somewhere. It possible the cats may have borrowed it from a neighbour who has a free range rabbit.


                  • Roberta
                    Participant
                    4355 posts Send Private Message

                      Honestly, this little bun is the spitting image of a friends dwarf rabbit right down to the colouring and stance.


                    • breannaloo
                      Participant
                      63 posts Send Private Message

                        I’m about to go pick him up now and then I can get a closer look and have more info! Thank you!


                      • LBJ10
                        Moderator
                        16870 posts Send Private Message

                          He sure looks like a baby cottontail. No white blaze on the forehead though. When you get him, can you take a better pic of his profile? I think that would help us.


                        • breannaloo
                          Participant
                          63 posts Send Private Message

                            First of all, THE CUTENESS. But on the more serious side, it’s a lot smaller than that picture made it seem. It’s probably 2 weeks old.


                          • breannaloo
                            Participant
                            63 posts Send Private Message

                              ALSO! ignore this pine bedding. that’s going away ASAP. this is how the lady gave her to me. i’m super anti-pine bedding. no worries!


                            • Roberta
                              Participant
                              4355 posts Send Private Message

                                Did the lady manage to have a look about for a nest or possibly any evidence of a run where Mummy Bunny may have been travelling frequently.


                              • breannaloo
                                Participant
                                63 posts Send Private Message

                                  She said she looked for a nest and didn’t see one. She has outdoor cats though and says they go really far, and that they could have taken this poor baby all the way to her house. There’s a park nearby. It’s 10:30PM here now, but in the morning I’m thinking of looking around and seeing if I see a nest on the outskirts of the park. Otherwise, I may take it to a wildlife clinic that’s about 40 minutes from me, and ask them their opinion. Hard to tell since it’s such a little one!


                                • Jessie1990
                                  Participant
                                  393 posts Send Private Message

                                    Cotton tails don’t always have a white blaze. We found a nest at my parents when I was very little and only two of four babies in there (that we could see) had white blazes. It looks a bit more cottontailish in this picture, but it’s fur is so dark and his head shape is longer than any I have seen. This may vary from region to region though. I googled baby cotton tails and there are some that ARE almost identical to yours, so maybe it is.


                                  • LBJ10
                                    Moderator
                                    16870 posts Send Private Message

                                      Still cottontail-ish. Minus the white blaze. Actually it looks a little dark. Is that just the lighting? If it is dark, it could be melanistic and that might explain the lack of a white blaze too.


                                    • breannaloo
                                      Participant
                                      63 posts Send Private Message

                                        No it was actually really good lighting. Perhaps that’s what it is then, a wild melanistic bun. Tomorrow I’ll take it to that wildlife place.


                                      • Monkeybun
                                        Participant
                                        10479 posts Send Private Message

                                          To me, it looks like a cottontail as well. Its head shape is different than dwarf’s.

                                          Wild nests could be hard to find, as the mama won’t stick around. She will only go to it to feed, and she hides them well.


                                        • breannaloo
                                          Participant
                                          63 posts Send Private Message

                                            Yeah, I was talking with people about that. I think I’m just going to take it to the Wildlife clinic. I’m just concerned for it right now. It’s very shaky, who knows how long it’s day has been, or how long since it’s been that it’s had something nutritious. I have hay in there, and some water. The lady that I picked him up from said he ate some grass that she gave him, but it hasn’t eaten since he’s been in my care. Should I give it some Critical Care?


                                          • breannaloo
                                            Participant
                                            63 posts Send Private Message

                                              Now, after reading up on some articles about “what to do to care for a wild baby rabbit”, it says not to take them to a wildlife clinic, but some place that specifically cares for wild rabbits, because wildlife places will often just feed little babies to the birds and such that they have. so now i must try to find some wild rabbit place… sounds near impossible!


                                            • LBJ10
                                              Moderator
                                              16870 posts Send Private Message

                                                That only happens if you bring them to where I work. =\ We’re not a wildlife rehab place though. Do you have a wildlife rescue hotline? We have one where I live and there is a volunteer that specifically does rabbits.


                                              • breannaloo
                                                Participant
                                                63 posts Send Private Message

                                                  I live in Florida and there’s a Wildlife Hospital about 40 minutes from me, but I don’t know too much about it. Upon doing some research though, it looks like there’s a woman in Melbourne who specifically rehabs wild rabbits, squirrels, and song birds. So, I’m going to give her a call tomorrow and see if she’s still doing that. If I have to, I’ll take care of it. I of course will do my absolute best, and have been starting up a rescue for rabbits anyways. However, I know how small of a chance wild babies have of living this young without their mommas, and how different they are than domestic buns. So, I’d rather a professional wildlife person do it. We’ll see! I’m being hopeful either way. I’m just not sure what to give him right now in terms of a formula substitute. I was thinking critical care. I may try pedialyte for dehydration because I don’t know how long it went without water all day. It doesn’t seem sick though but I know they’re good at hiding it. Fingers crossed that it’s healthy. I have given him greens and a bit of hay. And water of course. Hasn’t eaten anything, yet. :/


                                                • breannaloo
                                                  Participant
                                                  63 posts Send Private Message

                                                    Unfortunately, the little sweetie just took his last breath. I have been checking on him every 45 minutes or so. He was sleeping in his hut last time I went in. When I went in this time, he was lying on his side out in the open of his cage. While on his side, he crawled himself across to the other side of the cage. I hoped he was just dreaming and picked him up, tried to sit him up right, but he collapsed back into my hand. I laid him down and my mom and I pet him while he took his last few breaths. You could tell he was struggling to breathe. Binky free sweet baby.</3 Who knows all of the stress that you went through before you were found. Those cats did you in, I'm so sorry. At least your last few hours were quiet and calm.


                                                  • Roberta
                                                    Participant
                                                    4355 posts Send Private Message

                                                      You did your best, unfortunately the ordeal with the cats may have done far more damage that he showed.
                                                      Binky Free Little Bunny.


                                                    • ninjabun
                                                      Participant
                                                      26 posts Send Private Message

                                                        I’m sorry to hear he didn’t make it. Looked like a cottontail to me, there are several species.

                                                        I actually have a baby cottontail (temporarily). The cat I’m pet-sitting caught it and brought it indoors and I was able to get it away from him (said cat is now quarantined indoors, though I doubt his owners are going to keep it that way when they get back). The baby was injured so I didn’t release it, but luckily it’s just old enough to be on it’s own. He (?) has been eating and drinking (and pooing a ton!), so I hope he starts doing well enough I can let him go (before I get too attached, it’s slightly illegal to keep cottontails…). I had contacted our local shelter (ran by police officers), and the wildlife rehabilitators they used weren’t available so they said just to let it go as soon as it got well enough. Hopefully that will be soon, because I think the bun is way too calm around me (personally, I think he realizes I rescued him & am taking care of him). After I cleaned the carrier I’m keeping him in (had him in another one while cleaning), I held him to put him in, and he stayed in my hand (yes, he fits into my hand as well), took a piece of hay and just started nibbling slowly while sitting there. I finally had to make him get off, though I didn’t really want to. I need to remember to take pics before I let him go.

                                                         

                                                        I really hope he doesn’t get an infection or anything…thats sad that the one ya’ll had wasn’t able to pull through.


                                                      • LittlePuffyTail
                                                        Moderator
                                                        18092 posts Send Private Message

                                                          So sad he didn’t make it…. (((((Binky Free Little Cottontail))))))


                                                        • breannaloo
                                                          Participant
                                                          63 posts Send Private Message

                                                            Thank you for all the binky free wishes to little cottontail. He’s been placed nice and cozy in a sealed container and buried in the backyard next to where my childhood hamster is buried. I read that not only does the trauma and stress get to the little guys, but that also the bacteria from a cat’s mouth can be fatal to the little sweethearts, especially that young. At least it died as peacefully as possible, especially compared to being torn apart by cats. Makes me so sad to think of how scared it was before the lady found it. I’ve been wanting to start a rescue for a long time, and this definitely showed me the harder side to it. However, I think it was a good learning experience and actually makes me want to do it more for the fact that yes, it’s sad if they don’t make it, however at least I can make these sweethearts have the best possible final days/hours and can try everything possible to help them.


                                                          • tobyluv
                                                            Participant
                                                            3310 posts Send Private Message

                                                              Thank you for caring for this little bunny. I’m sorry that he didn’t make it. Cats do carry a lot of bacteria and if they bite another animal, I’ve heard from wildlife rehabbers that the animal should get antibiotics within 24 hours. And you are right that the stress of an attack can also be fatal. I’m glad that he received peace and love from you at the end.


                                                            • IsabellaRobyn
                                                              Participant
                                                              592 posts Send Private Message

                                                                Binky free little bunny.


                                                              • LBJ10
                                                                Moderator
                                                                16870 posts Send Private Message

                                                                  Aww poor little bun. =( This happened once when a kitty had a hold of a bunny in the park. I chased the cat and he dropped the bun. I picked him up, looked him over, and couldn’t see anything physically wrong. Took him back to my house to call a wildlife place. Put him in a box with some food. And then he died before I could get him to someone. =( I really do think the trauma and the stress kills them, even though the response seems delayed.


                                                                • ninjabun
                                                                  Participant
                                                                  26 posts Send Private Message

                                                                    The bun I had passed away as well. It had seemed pretty calm, even licked my finger when I moved it back to it’s carrier after cleaning it, but yeah, guess it’s just too hard for such little buns to fight the infections and stress.

                                                                    On the bright side, the dogs I’m pet-sitting found a nest of really young babies. I didn’t want the dogs to hurt them, so decided to move them to the back pasture (just a few feet away on the other side of the fence). The mom found them, and they look like they are doing well and growing every day.

                                                                    I think it is fantastic that you want to start a rescue, and I wish you the best of luck!

                                                                Viewing 30 reply threads
                                                                • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

                                                                Forum DIET & CARE HELP ASAP! Domestic or wild?!