Rescued Cottontail Baby

[SamPiXiE]

Hello All! I'm new here but I have a desperate need for bunny answers. A friend of mine turned over a single orphan baby whose nest had been destroyed by dogs. The baby had its eyes closed and wouldn't eat. I researched every rehab site I could find and realized one common thread....my baby needed properly mixed formula, lactibolous/acidopholous and ct droppings from another bunny. I was told by my rehabber that my chances were about 10% to success since the eyes were closed. The only instinct and thought I had was...I have to get another rabbit baby to help rehab therapy. So, I drove an hour away to a rabbit breeder I found and brought home my baby New Zealand "SprinkleBerries!"

My plan worked beautifully. My baby was put next to my new pet and immediately seemed relieved. Even though he couldn't see yet the other calm baby made him gobble food and snuggle peacefully. Both babies took to each other like they were lost littermates, which is amazing considering the vast difference in their breed. I kind of learned about bonding recently. I had no idea I was creating a potentially different problem!My bunnies love each other. My cottontail has made it successfully to over 3 weeks of age and is eating fresh clover, dandelion etc. along with formula. The wild baby is fat, healthy and playful. My domestic is a big baby and is sooooo loveable! They have their own bunny room but are hardly seperated.

I took Sprinkleberries to the vet today and had him fixed. When I brought him home, he and baby crawled in my lap and slept. I had thought I would adopt Sprinkleberry a friend after my cottontail release. The problem is they are so attached and the baby shows no wild tendancy yet. How do I know when to releae and will this "bond," hinder their health when seperated??? I would love to keep my babies together but I'm so scared it's the wrong choice. Anyone who can help please reach out! I love my babies so much! I had no idea how wonderful bunnies were! I want the best for my fuzzies....Please help!!!!!

 

[undergunfire]

Keeping Wild Cottontails may be illegal in your area, you may want to check into that.

I do not agree with keeping wildlife as pets. They are not a domesticated animal, therefore, will not do well in a home-style setting.

Once the wild baby reaches puberty, you are very likely to see a massive change in the rabbit. It will be come very aggressive....to you, your other bunny, and itself.


I am sure Randy (a wildlife rehabilitator) will come along soon to give you more information.


- Amy

 

[SamPiXiE]

I'm not sure if it is illegal in AL. but I'm not looking to make my cottontail a permanent addition. I just need help figuring out the best way to handle theirseperationMy rehab contact was even a bit worried about the separation factor. I agree...a wild animal should never be imprisoned. I just wantto figure out how to make the transition easiest for both babies. Should I begin seperating them gradually and seriously look into rescuing a girlfriend for my domestic??? Should I take the cottontail outside for a bit everyday? Thanks so much for your help!

 

[undergunfire]

I am unsure about your latest questions, but I am sure that someone will come along and answer them for you.


In the meantime, you may want to read this:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=14296&forum_id=8


:clover:

 

[ra7751]

Hi,

I was asked to look at this thread and offer some advice. I have been a wildlife rehabber for a long time. It is most likely illegal in your area to hold wildlife without proper permits. Some states are more tolerant than others. But morally, as you have mentioned, a wild animal should be in the wild. I do have two non-releasable cottontails....came from another rehabber......and a story for the future.

If your cottontail is about three weeks old, there could be grave danger soon. That rabbit is about to go thru a violent weaning process. For the time being, keep things exactly as you have been doing. The GI tract, usually somewhere around three weeks old or a little older, will convert quickly to an adult gut. The pH in the gut will rapidly acidify and the drastic change in environment will result in a die off of the beneficial bacteria...and that allows some bad things to happen. It sounds as if you have been doing all the right things so that is why it is so important to continue that for another week or so. What happens in the gut is identical to what happens in a domestic's gut after a stasis event. And remember that the inner workings of a cottontail is identical to a domestic.

Most cottontails will also "wild out" on their own soon after completed weaning. A "soft release" is appropriate in many cases. Basically, you start converting them to outside life in a cage outside over the period of a week or two. Most cottontails will have no problem doing this and will adapt quickly. They will become impossible to handle....and quickly. I have had some "wild out" and would have to do an emergency release since they were hurting themselves trying to get out of the cage....running back and forth banging into the side walls at full speed. And the stress in their face. When a cottontail is trapped inside a cage.....they feel they are being confined by a predator. I try to get my cottontails released within a week after the GI conversion....so about 4 weeks or so. They generally let me know when it's time.

Hope this helps. Let me know either on this thread or by PM if you need more specific advice. You are about to go thru the period when most rehabbers lose cottontails. It is frustrating after putting in so much work when that happens...and why many rehabbers are not fond of working cottontails.

Randy

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Cottontail rehabbers must have a strong heart to know that some will perish if they did not get the necessary nutrients from Mom's milk in the early days. We had a particularly wet spring one year and seemingly healthy orphaned kits declined rapidly. Either the weaning transition, genetics, or early exposure to a very damp and moist upbringing.

The soft release environment included a well-protected outdoor wooden hutch with hardware cloth screening, and hiding spots.

Visual (below) of former e/c patients, released in 2003 around the age of six weeks.Our group of licensed rehabilitators would release their patients at 4-5 weeks (when time and space permitted) just giving them a slightly bigger size to deter Cooper's Hawk predation. One of the youngsters in this photo was named Hutch Beeler. http://www.linedgroundsquirrels.com/Cottontails.html

We found it helps to release them in their birth territory, but this is not always possible due to predators and shorn habitat.HutchBeeleris the female who stuck around (thru the winter) and made a nest in the front yard June '04. I watched from the upstairs window as she dug and gave birth. The day a male e/c mounted her immediately after she gave birth!!! yikes. Thirteen days later she whispered to her youngsters to scamper VERY FAST from the nest to the safety of the nearby arborvitae cove. Ahefty wooden log & brush pile was built in the cove. My husband and I watched from the front door as alldashed like the dickens to the brush pile in cove. Raccoons, opposums, errant dogs, feral cats etc. were frequently traipsing thru our yard... smart thinking mom advised them to relocate 12 feet that-a-way!Can you imagine the whispered conversation mom had with her babies? ... Before the mad dash? ..."follow me gang, we' gotta vacate". A Cooper's hawk swooped down to snatch one of the final-scurrying babes, when Mom Cottontail turned on the hawk to thwart his talon fetch. She Lunged at that bird of prey. It would not have had a happy ending if the hawk was a red-tailed species.

At approximately 3 to 3 1/2 weeks, all had dispersed. One juvey, Beeler J, stuck around the yard. Seeing mom e/c return at dusk to nurse her wild youngens who came dashing from the cove was an incredible nature experience. They'd flop on their backs to latch onto a nipple.

Beeler J would binky from our backyard blue spruce last summer at the shake of oats container and the sound of her name.

Sorry for the book chapter. Eastern Cottontails turned us into devoted domestic rabbit parents - & - rescue guardians.

Good luck as you do your best to give that vulnerable e/c the best survival chance!!

retired rehabber TF.

Hutch Beeler, Nacho Beeler, and Beeler J. ... and many released patients.

 

[SamPiXiE]

Thank you so much for your "chapters!" I truly appreciate feedback for my baby. My cottontail is growing like a weed and i think I've made hima little fat...lol He binkies around the bunny bedroom and plays constantly with my baby domestic. He thinks I'm mommy and runs up my chest and into my hair to groom me after his bottle. He is eating fresh picked yard salad constantly and has a very healthy digestive track.I'm moving into the 4 week age and I will start introducing him to the outside a couple of hours a day this week. I was told that if I can make it past the 5 week mark, my baby will have a much better chance of survival.

I'm looking to adopt another domestic from my rescue group to keep Sprinkleberry from getting depressed when baby leaves Can anyone give me advice on introducing a friend to my male baby? He's fixed already and has always had companions. He sleeps with baby, plays with baby and grooms with baby. I'm worried about the seperation of the babies because they are clearly deeply attached. Also, any suggestions on how to keep baby from being depressed/ scared upon release? i want him to have the best chance of survival possible.

Many peoplescold people like mewhen they hear about a wild baby being domestically homed. But this baby was orphaned by dogs when its eyes were still closed. I have worked very hard day and night to do everything possible for a life many would have left to fend for itself. I even adopted a domestic to give this poor orphan every comfort possible to rehab him successfully. I've been told there is a 90% failure rate in baby rehab. I know he's not grown yet but almost 4 weeks later my love and care have rewarded me tremendously with a healthy bright eyed cottontail! My rehab contact was amazed that I've had this kind of success. My contact has been very helpful and understanding and she may very well inspire me to become a volunteer for these poor babies that need special TLC!

I putbaby in a quiet spot in the wooded area behind my house and stepped back to see what he would do. He seemed terrified and wouldn't budge from his blankie. I brought him back in a little under an hour later. He was so happy to be back in his room and wouldn't leave my domestics side. I'm not trying to "illegally keep," a wild animal. (Which it's not illegal in my area, ecspecially if your working with a rehabber) I just don't want to send him to a certain death after being so sheltered and bonded. I will try little outings outside for now and hope that he sends me a sign that he's ready. I don't have the heart to release a very unprepared baby to an atmosphere that is now foreign.

Again thank you everyone who is advising me through this! I am a very avid animal lover and I want to do the right thing but at the right time for both of my babies! Again any advice is sooooo appreciated! The advice given thus far has been very heartening for my cause and I am very thankful for your stories

 

[Flashy]

I'm going to totally ignore the little cotton tail, purely because I don't know hardly anything at all about it.

But I can maybe help you with bonding bunnies.

A good way to do it is to take SprinkleBerries (which I think is a TERRIFIC name) to the shelter, to meet the bunnies, and effectively set up a 'bunny date'. You will obviously have to check with the shelter as to if this is allowed at theirs, some allow it, some don't.

The idea of a bunny date is that it allows the bunny to choose, so that you ge two compatible bunnies, which are far easier to bond together.

When you have them at home, it might be an idea to quarantine them from each other (maybe for a couple of weeks, I do 3, others do 2, some do 4, some do none) just so that your bunny doesn't catch anything from the adopted bunny, and when that time is over then start the bonding process.

Start swapping toys over, food bowls, allowing them in each otehrs cages (provided that the other bunny is not in it). You can try putting them together for a short space of time in the bathtub, which will probably be neutral territory and also easy to get one out if they start to fight.

The bonding process can take a long time, days, weeks, months, depending on the bunnies, but it can be really rewarding when it's done.

It's probably worth googling about bonding bunnies, and also have a look in the bunny 101 forum because there is a thread there about it.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Nacho eastern cottontail was kept by his finders for approx. a week before I got him and his siblings from the wildlife center. Wildlife placement coordinator said... Julie, they were being fed cow's milk. (big gulp). I fully expectedALL to die. By some grace of the creator, ** all survived.

My wildlifepatients were17 at the time.Nacho's siblings were climbing the wooden hutch walls anticipating release day.I think your mix of clover, dandelions, plaintain, timothy grass, blackberry leaves, natural foods and properly mixed formula is givin' him/her a significant edge.

Sad reality... At the wildlife center e/c volunteers got overwhelmed with cottontail intakes,(no way, don't call me. I'mOFF the acceptance list. 33 ec's in my care right now!) successive submissionswould beeuth'd for owl/hawk food when no rehab homes were available.

It's great that you were tutored/instructed by a savvy rehabber. Hope he makes it through gut conversion phase.

Reality, only 15% of nest babies make it out alive. Sending your lucky patient good vibes! Please keep us posted.

 

[ra7751]

I can understand where people "scold" you for keeping wildlife....but it seems in this case keeping the rabbit as a pet is not the goal....your goal is to release it back. But you make a very good point about TLC....and it seems to mean more with rabbits than any other species. I do "bond" with my wild animals. But I think the key here is that I am the only one here that does. They do learn to trust me and allow me to do what I need to with them. But, as designed, they don't trust others...and that is the way it should be.

You might want to consider what we call a "soft release". It is a method in which you gradually introduce the animal to the outside. It seems to be especially important with squirrels. Some rabbits see the woods and take off and some are a little overwhelmed. If possible, set your rabbit up in a safe area near the woods. A week or so should allow them to become accustomed to all the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors.

We usually try to get them out by 4 weeks but it all depends on their development. Some will "wild out" early and we have to make an emergency release....and some ar like lazy teenagers and want to hang around way too long. They will usually let you know when it's time.

Randy

 

[Flashy]

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12072&forum_id=17

This link might help you with the bonding process.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Mod Rehabilitator Randy has terrific advice, count me in as his understudy too...

Another note on prey animals. They can fracture their necks and literally kill themselves from the prescense - smell- of a predator. And dead end avenues.Such was the case with one of our patients...Take precautions so a fox or coyote doesn't overturn an outdoor hutch.

Randy's superior advice on outdoor sounds, smells, and not releasing them blindly will benefit your cottontail. ... The hoots of owls, quiet walking of a fox, coon, rustle of leaves, will teach them to Freeze, Flee, or in a last and desperate attempt, fight. They must developacute hearing and vision to survive. In the backyard Beeler J wouldFREEZE after detecting a hawk overhead way before we did. Wild Cottontailsmust memorize their escapepaths and territory to fleePDQ from impending danger.

Beeler Joftentimes approached downwind of us to detect our scent - even after voice recognition - and maybe we looked the same, wore the same clothes before she came closer. She would sniff my hubby's tennis shoes. IsTF wearing that same deoderant again?!

Related to domestics:Last week at suppertime one of our silver rescues wouldn't leave the litter pan kept in the corner because a NEW INTRUDER, our son, was at the table eating. After he left, shecautiously let down her Guard Factor to begin exploration of the floor.

Sorry again for the input,

 

[ra7751]

TF....excellent points...and something you mentioned, albeit maybe a little off the exact topic, might be a good place to mention what a rabbit sees.

A rabbit does not have the vision we do. They tend to see more in shadows. The cones anddesigns in their retinas also lead them to be able to see some shades of blue and maybe green. They do rely on smell tremendously....and they do memorize escape routes. That is why some rabbits get really upset if you "redecorate" their living arrangements. That factor also comes into play when a rabbit is blind. We have one that eyeballs did not develop. He can see a little light in his left but is totally blind in his right. But as long as everything is placed the same in his house....he goes right to it everytime. Colors....this is very unscientific but at one time we took our buns to our beach house every weekend. At the time, Wal Mart bags were blue while another supermarket used white bags. They learned the blue bags meant a treat....no reaction to the white ones even though they had treats, but they did respond on sight to the blue ones. Going back to shadows....think of a hand coming from above to a rabbit. Maybe interpreted as a bird of prey coming in on attack. And a rabbit can't see directly in front of it's nose. All of these things are useful info when you are dealing with a rabbit that might lunge when you approach. Think like a bunny and you will understand why they react in the way they do.

I have mentioned in other threads about doing things such as switching on indoor lighting a little at a time...and doing the same as you switch them off for the night....it simulates sunrise and sunset. Feed them at the appropriate time...remember rabbits are crepuscular....most active around dawn and dusk. And find a release point with adequate water, shelter and food.

I just released a number of cottontails. Some benefit from a soft release...others are ready to roll. Sure is a treat to watch these babies head off on their own.

Randy

 

[seniorcats]

What an informative topic. Just a small funny story about 'cottontail' rescue. My neighbor told me she rescued a young cottontail with a broken leg, had the leg set, bunny neutered. She swears he is the perfect house rabbit, 100% litter trained.

I finally went to look at her 'cottontail' and realized it's the martin with agouti coloring that my other neighbor owned. It appears when he moved, he let the rabbit loose and the new owner thought they were rescuing a wild rabbit. I didn't tell her he isn't a wild rabbit but I'm surprised the vet didn't mention it.