A Litter In Our Yard.

[Kax0r]

So, today I was mowing the lawn and I found a small bunny (no more than one inch tall, he could barely hop) hopping around our yard. It was incredibly hot outside (I live in Texas), so I figured where there’s one, there must be many. No more than 10 yards away there was a small hole in the ground with at least 2 more, and no more than 20 there was one cuddling up against the wall, all of them near-unresponsive (besides the hopper, who went to a neighbor’s yard).

 

So I get a couple medicine cups and some large PVC pipe. I make the one against the wall a little shelter, and put a medicine cup full of water near the edge of it. I also put a little hay (I have a indoor bunny) near the edge of it, also trying to forcefeed it a bit. He was totally unresponsive, only blinking once to let me know he was alive. I do the same for the little den, without the PVC pipe (they already have shelter).

 

Did I do the right thing? I’m also worried the medicine cups may be too tall for them to reach into. Is there more I should be doing?

[Elrohwen]

From my limited knowledge of cottontails, by the time their eyes are open and they are able to hop out of the nest, they are on their own. I would just leave them alone and let them work things out for themselves. Their mom may still be around, or she may have weaned them already and left them to fend for themselves.

It’s very sad that some may not make it, but I think you need to let nature take its course.

You could call a wildlife rehab and see what their advice is. I would trust the experts before trying to do any forcefeeding which could be detrimental to the health of the babies.

[Kax0r]

So there’s one I’m particularly fond of, I’ve kept that little water cup full and also left little stashes of hay around the yard for him to nibble on. He’s an incredibly distinct little guy, so I’ve given him a name as well. Ares, Greek god of war (the little guy’s only like an inch tall- heh.).

[LittlePuffyTail]

I hope all the little guys are okay! That’s so sad that the Momma rabbit will leave the babies so defenceless to fend for themselves.

[Beka27]

There’s really nothing more you should do.

[Author]

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