found wild baby bunny

[wildagouti]

Our cat found a baby bunny and brought it into our home. It is VERY small and young. Its eating and running around and functioning fine. It was not harmed by the cat. My kids really want to keep it and we have owned pet rabbits in the past. I was just wondering if its okay to keep this bunny? I'm condsidering it because he is so young and small. I don't know if its ok, but we have already been holding him. Or should we return him(her?) to outside? Thanks.

 

[littl3red]

Are his eyes open? If at all possible, take him back to the nest. Odds are that he will die without his mother at such a young age. If you were a professional wildlife rehabilitator, and the mother was killed/gone, then it would be okay to keep him, but I think it's safe to assume that neither of those things are true to this situation...

 

[ldoerr]

It also MIGHT be illegal to keep it.

 

[littl3red]

Here is some more information:

http://www.messingerwoods.org/babybunny.htm

 

[wildagouti]

We have NO idea where the nest is but after doing a little reading online, we decided to let him go outside. It just got dark and I read thats the best time because the mother might come and look for him. Yes his eyes are open and as I said he is able to get around and everything hes just TINY.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

ray: