My suggestion to you would be to leave them alone, no matter how cute they
are (believe me, I know the temptation is terrible - baby bunnies are
ADORABLE!)...
I've tried several times to raise young baby animals like that before and it
has been my experience that if they are old enough to move around on their
own (or run from you), then they are better off on their own and will most
likely make it... if they are such that they are easy to catch, then they
are either sick and shoudln't be touched anyway OR they are young enough
that us humans won't make a very good mother-substitute....although, it IS
possible - I'm just not a big fan of getting up every 2 hours, every night,
ALL night, to feed - it can be a very frustrating experience for both the
babies and the feeder...
....a future note: According to several books I've read about dealing with
animals/babies in the wild - Aniamls have a KEEN sense of smell and if you
touch their babies/invade the nest, they CAN smell it and instinct will tell
them to abandon the nest....
...but those are just my personal opinions/observations...I wish I could
give you more positive advice.....
-Adie
----Original Message Follows----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: A little off topic--baby bunny question
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 14:39:57 EST
Yesterday while raking leaves we found a rabbit nest with about 5 kits (is
that what theyre called?) or whatever in a little hole--i thought it kinda
unusual for them to nest right in the middle of the yard but she did and now
since we had to rake the leaves up they only have a little bitty bit
covering
them.....anyway we did pet them a little (i know youre not supposed to but
we
couldnt resist! ) so my question i guess is will the mother come back and
take care of them (or hopefully move them since now theyre really out in the
open w/o a big pile of leaves) or should i get them and bring them to a
wildlife rehabilitator (i would love to raise them myself but mammals are
lots different than birds i'm sure ;0) I'v left the nest alone and havent
gone near it or anything since we found it---however i don't know when or
where to look out my window to see if mom is around (we rarely get a glimpse
of the cuties hoping around the yard) and there is a cat in our yard who was
"prowling " around our shed yesterday.... im sure leaving them w/ mom would
be best but i just want to know if since there is human smell on them she
will come around again or what?
anysuggestions? sorry this was so long lol
thanks:O)
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