baby wild bun

[mablesandsocks]

my step dad found a wild bun in back garden
we have put her in a hutch outside with some hay greens and mushy pellets.
we think she is approx 4 weeks old..
what are the odds of keeping her alive and taming her??
no injuryies

we have named itcocoa

we have seeked professional advice they say they can do nothing more than we are doing at the minute

are we doing the right thing and have you go any advise as it looks as tho we are going to have to hand rene

 

[NorthernAutumn]

Tough one... is there a wildlife rehabilitation centre near you?
My understanding is that hand-raising a wild bun is incredibly difficult, due to dietary challanges. Even wildlife rehabilitation professionals struggle with caring for them.

How long has it been since you noticed the rabbit outside?
Moms may leave their babies by themselves for periods of time, but will come back for them.
If it has only been a few hours, I would guess that mom may be coming back for it.

Bo B Bunny would have some good info for you. ..

Let me see if I can find some links...

 

[Flashy]

Welcome to the forum

I hope Cocoa does ok. Is she being kept well away from the ferrets?

Are you going to try a different wildlife rescue?

(I'm a member of RU, so have read and seen your thread on there).

 

[mablesandsocks]

Welcome to the forum

I hope Cocoa does ok. Is she being kept well away from the ferrets?

Are you going to try a different wildlife rescue?

(I'm a member of RU, so have read and seen your thread on there).




we have ferts indoors in paddlocked hutchs and cocoa in padlocked hutch outside

we have noticed it has nibbled a brable leaf

 

[Flashy]

I have read that other thread, however, have not responded at all, nor contacted you so rest assured I was not one of the judgemental people under another name.

I personally think that some of the info you have received from professionals is not great. A wildlife rehabilitation place should take her because you won't have the knowledge to be able to successfully reintergrate her or release her. If the local one is not helpful, then see if there is another one. It's not about legally her being yours, it's about the best place for her, which they should understand. The best place for her is to be with someone with the right knowledge of kits her age, how to release, other rabbits to reintergrate her with, etc.

 

[NorthernAutumn]

^^^ I think Flashy's advice is excellent.



I guess I'm wondering if it really is a wild bun; if she wasn't that challenging to catch, could be a domestic...

Here's a good rundown by Carolyn
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=5538&forum_id=1&highlight=clover%2Bwild

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=8625&forum_id=1&highlight=clover%2Bwild

However, if it really is a wild bun, if it isn't injured, it is likely OK on its own...

 

[naturestee]

Hi,

If the baby is about 4 weeks old, it can be released where you found it as long as it is a safe area. Wild babies are weaned (off milk) at this age and don't need their mother any more. It may have been easy to catch because she is newly out of the nest and hasn't learned to run away yet, or was too scared to run.

I really don't recommend keeping her. For one thing, check your local laws because in many areas it is illegal to keep wildlife without a permit, including wild rabbits. Also, most wild rabbits never become good pets because they have all of their wild instincts, much more than a domestic rabbit would. Just like keeping a dog vs. keeping a wolf. Even though they're more or less the same species (and in Europe wild and domestic rabbits are the same species), the wild ones act wild and are not good or safe pets. Also, keeping one that was already raised in the wild like this one in a hutch is very stressful for it and that alone might make it sick.

If you do want a pet rabbit, there are a ton of shelters and rabbit rescues in the UK with domestic rabbits waiting for homes.

 

[Flashy]

What if the rabbit has received a rather large shock? Is it advisable to put it back then?

 

[mablesandsocks]

we were told to leave in hutch for 12 hours

 

[naturestee]

Flashy wrote:

What if the rabbit has received a rather large shock? Is it advisable to put it back then?

I had this last summer, when my neighbor's two Bermese Mountain Dogs chased wild baby bunny around their yard and spooked it badly. The wildlife rehabber we got a hold of told us to keep her for four hours or so in a very quiet place (cage in an empty garage), then release her in some bushes near where she came from. If she's still there after a few hours and we can pick her up, then we would need to take her to the rehabber.

James checked the bun 15 minutes after releasing it, and it had run off. It just needed to be away from people and scary people stuff to calm down.

 

[EileenH]

As naturestee has said, if the rabbit is about 4 weeks old, it is ready to be on its own and doesn't need help.

If it is indeed a wild rabbit, please don't attempt to keep it. It is a wild rabbit - give it its freedom. There are so many domestic rabbits that need homes, please leave the wild ones where they should be....

 

[ra7751]

Something I usually mention in my presentations. Wild animals are meant to be in the wild. We should intervene only when necessary. In the case of any wild animal, if it needs help, it's best chance for survival is in the hands of a trained rehabbers. Here is the US, most states require permits in order to legallyhold and treat wildllife....mammals, reptile and amphibians fall under state jurisdiction (for the most part) and all birds native to North America fall under federal jurisdiction. Licensed rehabbers have the special training that is required to deal with wild animals. And the parting shot in many of my presentations:

Keep the wild in your heart.....not in your home.

 

[Bo B Bunny]

I have a wild cottontail that I raised. I wouldn't recommend keeping this baby if it isn't injured. The one I have had to be helped due to injury and permenant damage to a hind leg. I still feel bad for her cause she is STILL a wild bunny - she's just not as wild as the ones living outside. I love her dearly and she is sweet when we can hold her, hand her treats, etc., but I would have loved to have released her.

She needs a mom at that age. Bunnies need cecals.... there are so many issues here. I don't know what to tell you other than get a rehab person to take her.

 

[Baby Juliet]

Once long time ago before having pet bunnies, I caught a wild baby. A bunch of them were with their parent feeding on the lawn. I wanted a pet but released it later because I didn't know what to feed it nor had a cage. If I had a cage I would probably have kept it. I think I let it run around the house for a few hours before giving it up. It's only recently that I realize there's a difference between wild and domestic rabbits.

 

[Flashy]

What did you do with Cocoa in the end?