STOP! Before doing ANYTHING, determine which situation is yours
- I found a wild baby rabbit in a nest. I don't see mom. The rabbit isn't injured.
- YAY! The best scenario. It's baby season. Enjoy the cuteness and let out a silent "squeeee" as you back away slowly from the nest. Leave the rabbit alone. Keep pets away from the nest.
- I found a wild baby rabbit in a nest that appears injured, dehydrated, or orphaned (very skinny, cold). I don't see mom (or I do, and she is dead).
- Call us - 864-372-9992. We will advise you to keep the baby in a warm, dark, quiet, safe space such as a small box wrapped in a towel while we work to resolve the issue. Gently place in box. Do not feed or handle.
- I found a wild baby rabbit outside of the nest. I see the nest and don't see mom. The rabbit isn't injured.
- If the area where you discovered them is free from immediate danger, put the bunnies back in the nest and cover it with a light layer of dry grass and leaves, sprinkle the perimeter with a heavy line of flour or cross twigs on top of the nest, and check it the following morning for small clues that the mother visited during the night. If the babies tummies are plump, if you see a “milk line” through their skin, or if flour you place around the nest or twigs have been disturbed, the mother is doing her job.
- If the babies are cold, dehydrated, or weaker than they were the previous day, you will need to remove them if they are to survive. Call us at this point.
- I found a wild baby rabbit with EYES CLOSED or with eyes open, ears back, and very little fur (less than 2wks old) outside of the nest and I have looked everywhere and I don't see the nest. The rabbit isn't injured.
- Call us - 864-372-9992. We will advise you to keep the baby in a warm, dark, quiet, safe space such as a small box wrapped in a towel while we work to resolve the issue. Gently place in box. Do not feed or handle.
- I found a wild baby rabbit after something destroyed its nest (mowing, landscaping, etc), but the rabbit isn't injured.
- Remake the nest as best you can with grasses, hay, straw in the same place. To make a new nest, dig a shallow hole about 3″ deep and put into it as much of the original material as you can recover, including the mother’s fur. Add dried grass as needed, and put the young back. Sprinkle the perimeter with a heavy line of flour or cross twigs on top of nest.
- Mama rabbits return to the nest to nurse only at night, staying away as much as possible so as not to attract predators. Check it the following morning for small clues that the mother visited during the night. If the babies tummies are plump, if you see a “milk line” through their skin, or if flour you or twigs place around the nest have been disturbed, the mother is doing her job.
- If the babies are cold, dehydrated, or weaker than they were the previous day, you will need to remove them if they are to survive.
- If the area is significantly destroyed, mama may not return. Call us at this point.
- I found a wild baby rabbit after something destroyed its nest and the rabbit is injured.
- Call us - 864-372-9992. We will advise you to keep the baby in a warm, dark, quiet, safe space such as a small box wrapped in a towel while we work to resolve the issue. Gently place in box. Do not feed or handle.
- My cat or dog brought me a wild baby rabbit, but I know where the nest is and the rabbit is not injured.
- This one is tricky. We may need more information. Call us - 864-372-9992.
- We will advise you to keep the baby in a warm, dark, quiet, safe space such as a small box wrapped in a towel while we work to resolve the issue. Gently place in box. Do not feed or handle.
- My cat or dog brought me an injured baby rabbit.
- Call us - 864-372-9992. We will advise you to keep the baby in a warm, dark, quiet, safe space such as a small box wrapped in a towel while we work to resolve the issue. Gently place in box. Do not feed or handle.
- Any other situation: CALL US.
NOTES:
*Babies should never be put back into a nest that has been flooded with water, has bugs/ants visibly crawling in and out, or if a baby has been killed and there is blood in the nest.
* Most rabbits with eyes open that you see in your yard don't need help. If he is just out and about, leave him be. He is discovering his world, waiting for mom to return at night when we humans are asleep. Don’t assume because he is letting you pick him up, he needs help. They are prey animals, taught to freeze when a predator (or human) approaches. Leave him be!
* Most rabbits with eyes open that you see in your yard don't need help. If he is just out and about, leave him be. He is discovering his world, waiting for mom to return at night when we humans are asleep. Don’t assume because he is letting you pick him up, he needs help. They are prey animals, taught to freeze when a predator (or human) approaches. Leave him be!
**TIME IS CRITICAL. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED OR REHABILITATE A WILD COTTONTAIL ON YOUR OWN. IF YOU DO NOT CALL A WILDLIFE REHABILITATION EXPERT AND ATTEMPT THIS ON YOUR OWN, YOU ROB THE ANIMAL OF ANY CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. IT IS A MYTH THAT MAMA WON'T RETURN IF SHE SMELLS YOU ON THE BABIES.**
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