Another Bunny Rescue

**********Disclaimer**********

Be aware that it is illegal in Georgia to take in or feed wildlife, unless holding a license in rehabilitation.
Check with your states’ laws and regulations.
We are profoundly aware of that fact and took every precaution and legal step there is to take. We only intercede if we feel an animal is injured or requires immediate intervention, as was the case in this situation.
If you should find a helpless baby bunny, please try to locate the nest and put it back. There is nothing wrong with touching a wild bunny kitten and placing it back in its nest. Wild baby bunnies have a high mortality rate in even the most experienced rehabilitators hands. Just like birds, it is a MYTH to think that mommas won’t touch their young once a human has touched it. This is NOT TRUE! So please, if you find yourself in that situation, put the baby back; bunny and bird alike!
Catching a wild animal could cause it enough stress to kill it within just a couple of days; so please use caution, common sense and contact someone licensed immediately!

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Having read my previous posts, you are well aware that we have huge hearts and taken in abandoned, domesticated animals before. Let’s face it, all of our pets are rescues! The one thing we have not had any dealings with is rescuing or rehabilitating wildlife. Follow our incredible journey of becoming licensed rehabilitators and what brought us to that decision.

But first, the latest rescue story.

Welcome to the jungle –

Our immediate next door neighbors haven’t mowed their lawn all summer long; as a matter of fact, they didn’t cut it last year either. Without a fence separating our properties, my late MIL would knock on their door to tell them to cut their “you know what” grass. Although I have voiced my opinion about some other on-goings in the neighborhood before, I have yet to go knocking on doors; maybe in a few years, ha ha!

Here – bunny, bunny, bunny

Only last week, Cathy and I were walking the front of our property; when we spotted a wild bunny across the road in a large field. Getting excited, my silly butt decided to call to it: “Hey there! Come here pretty bunny”. To our surprise, it stopped and with ears perked up in our direction, we realized it heard me. I kept on “Come here pretty bunny, come here!” while making kissy sounds; being silly! You know what? That darn bunny looked at us and true story; it began hopping right for us. Stopping in the ditch in front of us we could only see its ears, before it continued.

My wife decided to take a video at this point, because no one would believe a wild bunny answering our call! This was like Buddy Gauntt all over again! All the while she is saying “We are NOT taking in another animal, stop it!” I kept talking to it and squatted down on the ground as it continued heading for us. With our jaws hanging open, it stopped just a few feet short of us; inspected us and decided “Nah!” and made its way over to the neighbor’s property.

Isn’t it amazing how it blends into the background?

Not happening

We had a good laugh about it, both of us knowing we were not taking in any wildlife; nor did we plan on “finding” any more pets. Just moments later; two more bunnies joined and they all disappeared on the neighbors property, between the ground level porch and a permanently parked vehicle.
We wanted a closer look and approached that area; but all three ran off, when we were only half way across the lawn. We had no plans on disturbing them, we were just curious to where exactly they went; yes we are way too curious! We watched them cross the road and disappear into the field.

Still in disbelief that a wild bunny would come so close to us, we chattered about it for a couple of days; I mean what else do we have to talk about? These are the types of adventures we thrive on. We did discuss the possibility of a nest in that location as it would be perfect for them; waist high grass, the vehicle was stationary and no human really came close to there.

D-Day

A couple of weeks later; on a Saturday near dusk, we were astonished to see the neighbor’s grass being cut. I quickly dismissed the fleeting thought of “What if there is in fact a nest? What if they run over it and kill baby bunnies?” It’s not like we would be able to tell them not to cut their grass. Just moments after stepping inside to finish dinner, Levi came flying through the door and yelled at me, “Momma, come here…right….now!” Needless to say, I knew it was important since he never speaks to me that way. I turned down the simmering mess on the stove and immediately went outside thinking “Now what?”

You have got to be kidding

As my wife headed down the deck steps towards the stack of pallets in our backyard; her and Levi were feverishly talking about how they saw a teeny, tiny bunny run and take cover there. “Do what? You have got to be kidding me!” We grabbed some flashlights and sure enough, there it was; this tiny, frightened creature huddled under our pallets. It being way too small to survive so we decided to rescue it, afraid it might be eaten by a predator or simply unable to survive the night alone.
Needless to say it was not hard to catch, we literally just reached inside the stack and were able to pull it right out. Knowing that kittens are weaned and leave the nest between 4 to 6 weeks old, we estimated that this baby was much younger than that.

Checking for more babies

It was actually quite easy to get a hold of this wild kitten and we immediately checked it out for any injuries. We did not notice any obvious injuries, placed it in a carrier with lots of hay and on top of a heating pad to keep it warm. It dove right in and burrowed itself in the hay. Afraid of any more dispersed or possibly injured babies we inspected the yard.
The person mowing thought he saw something, but wasn’t sure until we told him what happened. He stepped off the mower and helped us make a quick walk around the property. None of us could find any more bunnies or a nest, and he assured us in keeping an eye out as he kept mowing.

Now what?

Knowing the legal implications (see disclaimer), we immediately started making phone calls to obtain some help; it was Saturday evening and rescue facilities were not open until Monday. We are not trained in taking care of wildlife, only domesticated animals. We needed some help. It was dusk and getting darker by the minute and we knew that a doe comes back to the nest only at night to feed and care for the kittens, so we kept an eye out on the area.
With the good hearted intentions of reuniting baby with mom, we never saw any bunnies back on the property.

Looking for resources

Calling a local farming supply store, the person with the bunny connections was not working…until Monday, of course! Not sure if the kitten was weaned yet or not, we immediately headed to mentioned supply store and purchased appropriate formula and feeding paraphernalia; just to be on the safe side.
Most of my supplies are bought through our affiliate; Chewy. Having used this company for years prior to affiliating, we are more than happy with their services. We also believe in supporting small, local stores and do so often.
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After doing some extensive research we realized that the next 24 hours were crucial. Baby bunnies have a low survival rate in the hands of even the most experienced rehabilitator. We were scared to death, what if this baby doesn’t make it? We just want to reunite it with its mother and let it do what wild bunnies do.