Belle got a baby bunn

emily445455 · 09-26-2008, 05:06 PM

So Belle (my 10 mo lab pup) and I were taking our daily stroll at the park when she started sniffing something. I didn't take any notice because she loves to sniff outside. But usually she sniffs for 10 or so seconds and then moves onto something else...she didn't this time. I heard a loud "peep!!!!" THANKFULLY I was close enough to grab her collar and tell her to drop it before she did any real damage to it. Well...it was a really, really young baby bunny. No fur, closed eyes, etc. So I took Belle home, grabbed one of those rubber gloves I use to clean the bathroom (it was clean, I use the disposable ones), and ran back over to the park to put the baby bunny back in it's nest.

There was a small scratch on it's head from Belle's tooth...will it be ok? It seemed to be alright besides that...it peeped and tried to jump (more like flop, hehe) away from me when I picked it up. Then when I put it down in it's hole (well more like dropped it in cause it jumped out of my hand), it snuggled in with it's brothers and sisters and went back to sleep.

Do you think it's ok? I feel really bad...I know it's not my fault, but still...it's a baaaaaaby

Also...anyone know why mother rabbits dig their nests so near to the surface? I put all the grass and fur back on the nest hole...but it seems like if someone steped down hard (like was running) on it, they would all be crushed

Thanks

Pepper · 09-26-2008, 05:38 PM

aww I'm sure the bunny will be okay.

And remember, most animals do what they have been doing for millions of years..we are intruding, they don't expect some one to run by and step on their nests...

Hopefully the mother does not reject them, but I think everything will be okay.

Twinney · 09-28-2008, 10:34 AM

Usually a mother won't reject something that's been touched by humans...or so many people wouldn't be getting attacked by Snow's and Canada's when going towards the goslings.
I never realized rabbit's make a sound until one day when our cat got one, and I thought somebody was bothering the dogs with a squeaky toy!
I've seen alot of rabbit nests, but none in public area's. (Well of course not, the town I live in isn't even very puplic.) I used to wonder why they weren't underground to save them from predators, or by accidently being killed, but then I figured, they probably have their reasons.

Pepper · 09-28-2008, 02:10 PM

Well it really depends, animals with a high sense of smell can sometimes reject a baby that smells like a human, she put gloves on which was a good idea.

That myth of birds rejecting their babies if someone puts one back in a nest is false, because A. birds don't have a high sense of smell. and B. They are somewhat like us, they just want the baby back and they don't care how they get it.

Think of it, if the baby rabbit reeked of human, then the whole nest would start to smell like human, and the mother rabbit may be too wary for a couple of days to go back in, causing the babies to basically starve.

But since she wore gloves, it won't be as strong an odor to deter the mother away.

Willowy · 09-28-2008, 02:36 PM

I found a nest of bunnies in my yard once (actually, I've found 3 nests at different times, but this one I was worried about), and I handled them every day. I never saw the mother rabbit, so I was afraid they were orphaned, which is why I was messing with them; to feel if they were thin or sickly or whatever. They all grew up and hopped away, so the mom bun must have been there when I wasn't around. The other 2 times I found nests, the mother rabbits were always close by, and would give me the evil eye if I got too close.

Anyway....the point was, I handled those bunnies every day, without gloves, and the mom rabbit still didn't abandon them. I think the motherly instinct is much stronger than we realize. I'm sure that bunny will be fine.

emily445455 · 10-06-2008, 03:42 PM

Good news! I saw one of the -bigger- baby bunnies out of their hole today

Yay mommy bunny!!

alphadoginthehouse · 10-16-2008, 01:58 PM

You MUST keep us updated on this...I'm curious to see how it all turns out. Maybe you could get some pictures...please?

emily445455 · 10-16-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphadoginthehouse

You MUST keep us updated on this...I'm curious to see how it all turns out. Maybe you could get some pictures...please?

As far as I know the baby bunny was fine. Last week I saw a bigger baby bunny in the hole...but of course I have no way of knowing if it was the bunny Belle got or not, since there were probably 5 or so of them.

The only pics I have are on my phone...so I'm not sure if there's a way to get them onto my computer, but I will ask hubby when he gets home

Sugar Daddy Otis · 10-16-2008, 02:05 PM

Glad to hear they seem to be okay

Here's a baby that big 'ol Otis found a few weeks ago...all he did when he saw it was lay down, put his head down and whine till I came over and saw what he found

What a good Boy I have

emily445455 · 10-16-2008, 02:07 PM

Awwww!! baby bunnies are so cute!!!

alphadoginthehouse · 10-16-2008, 04:11 PM

Aw, I knew Otis was a big softie. That is such a sweet story. I bet Otis could be mean if someone was messing with his girls tho...I sure wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a PO'd Otis.