Did you know that there is a very good chance that there are baby bunnies everywhere in your yard?
A few weeks ago, Dora found a nest full of them.
And she played with them.
A lot.
We were able to save one.
And he was finally well and big enough to leave last week.
Because cottontails are born with a "sterile gut," it is almost impossible for them to survive without their mother's milk. When I called the wildlife rescue people, they told me the best thing we could do was replace the remaining alive baby rabbits in their little spot, and re-cover them with the grass and hair that the mother placed on top of them. The mother comes back to her babies at sundown to nurse them, and leaves again in the morning. With odds like these, it is no wonder at all to me now why rabbits are known for their fertility. I cannot imagine baby bunny mortality rates.
I hope we don't find any more of these little bunny nurseries. I don't think I can take it again.
Okay, as you were, the science class is over for today...
20 comments:
Hurrah for the one that made it! Well, at least until he gets into the carrot patch!
That's the saddest story... I hate that they're so delicate. It makes it even harder to understand why they grow up to play "bunny death dash" with cyclists.
My friend has a yard bunny who hops toward her when she speaks. A joy. Don't know if there will be baby bunnies. We have coons. I feed them, but rarely see them. Don't think that's a good idea, but somehow (in the yard cats' day) it happened, and here we are.
Appreciated the science lesson.
when I was a little girl, our cat got a bunch of the baby bunnies in a nest in our yard. Mom and I were hysterical. My dad, a farm boy growing up, was like "that's how life is. The cat was just indulging his instinct." We did protect the remaining babies though. I, too, wouldn't want to go through it again!
I hate to sound insensitive, but I won't let it stop me. I am being overrun by bunnies. And they're getting bold. They're cute and all...until they shake you down for money to allow you to get to your own house. Just sayin'...it's almost that bad!
I tried to rescue a baby bunny from the neighbours' cat.
Brought it to the vet and he gave me some *bunny formula* and a little eyedropper. But he told me not to be surprised if the little one didn't make it.
The poor thing died less than 48 hours later.
I was devastated (and 12 years old at the time.)
Bear((( )))
We are inundated with rabbits. They are tame enough to walk up to us when we get out of our car. They are also tame enough to eat every single flower I planted. And one of their ancestors chased my child around and around and around our pool one day a few years ago. I am trying to claim them as tax exemptions next year.
I know we have to respect the circle of life and all...I just don't like it to happen in my yard;) This almost killed me. I swear. Maybe it's hormones...?
I had some baby bunnies too!
http://starwoodgal.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/look-what-was-in-garden-maiden-grasscute/
They sure are cute when they are little but they've been eating all my sweet potato vine and I'm quite unhappy about it now.
we have racoons instead of bunnies. i would much rather have rabbits.
Oh I hope mama comes back and feeds her remaining babe .. a few months ago our Lisa's dog played with some bunnies too .. only she, Sugar, brought them into the house to show them off ... not pretty
Who knew chihauaua's were so aggressive?
:-Daryl
Oh, my. How Darwin.
Make sure Glen Close stays far, far, away:)
Yeah, I don't think I could take watching the babies die. They are so adorable...we get them in our area as well. They come to chew on my flowers and the clover that grows wild in my yard. I try to play dumb about the cycle of nature and go to my happy place....la, la, la, la.....
I was so glad you left that comment on my blog. This morning I went out to check on our nest - and 5 of the 6 were killed. So something must have found the nest. Only 1 made it, and I'm not sure how to prtoect it.
I am totally heartbroken. WAH.
Oh my, you are too sensitive for the bunnies...close your eyes...there might be more...
I did not know about the sterile gut thing...interesting.
Thank you for educating me on the intestines of the cottontail rabbit. I honestly did not know that and we have lots of rabbits out here. Glad you saved one of the little ones and was able to release him to be eaten by something else in the wild!!! That is a sucky thought isn't it? Sorry...But I do love rabbits.
Poor widdle baby bunnies! We had a mama bunny for a bit. Thirteen babies in two litters and only one survived. Strange creatures. I'm glad y'all saved one. The mama is pretty.
I totally get what you're saying. I haven't seen our fox since the last pictures I took. :-(
and yet when *i* go away and leave my kids for as long as that, people report me to the authorities...
Post a Comment