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Wildlife Emergency
Infant Bunny Emergency
Rabbits are on their own at 3 to 4 weeks of age. Their main
defense mechanism against predators is to remain completely still so
as not to be seen. That is why it is so easy to closely
approach a very young bunny. If you see a small rabbit that is
about 4 inches in length from nose to tail in a hunched position, it
is already independent of its mother.
Unlike most infant mammals baby bunnies have a very large stomach
capacity that can hold large amounts of milk. This allows mother
rabbits the ability to visit the nest only twice a day (typically at
dawn and dusk) to feed her infants reducing the risk that she will
draw attention to them by her presence. The rest of the time
the infants are left unattended covered only by a layer of grass.
Rabbit nests are often located in yards and are simple, shallow depressions usually made of grass and
lined with fur from the mother rabbit. The nests are easily disturbed by lawn care, pets, and children.
If you have disturbed a nest follow these suggestions:
- Carefully examine the bunnies to determine if any of them are
injured.
- Put the healthy bunnies back in the nest and replace the
grass on top.
- Keep other animals and people away from the nest.
- To determine if the mother rabbit is returning place a pattern
of twigs or yarn across the grass top. If by morning the
pattern has been disturbed, she has most likely returned.
If any of the bunnies are injured or if the mother rabbit has
not returned please contact the Wildlife In Need Center at (262)
965-3090.
[click for information about
transporting infant mammals] |
