Found a newborn rabbit outside
 

I was walking the dogs and stumbled across what I thought was a mouse. Another guy was outside and I asked him about it, he thinks its a baby rabbit. It looks exactly like these http://www.torontowildlifecentre.com...abbit2_twc.jpg

I don't know what to do!!! It was just flopping around helplessly. I want to bring it in, but I don't know if that would make it better, or worse. I also don't know if its sick or carrying anything. My bf and I really don't want to leave it out there, what do we do?!?! :(:(:(:(

Suggestions, please?!?

Oh gosh, poor thing! I don't know anything about rabbits... From what I read though, you should put it back because it won't survive in your care. Maybe the mom went to go find food? I don't know...

FAQ: Orphaned Baby Bunnies

Yeah, I didn't bring it in yet. Doing my research first!! The guy outside said he saw it there early this AM, his dog almost ate it! So I know it's been there all day. I'm just so sad and can't stop thinking about the poor thing!

if it has been out there all day the mom probably isn't coming back.
if you did decide to bring it in get a shoebox put a fleece blankie on the bottom and fill it with it with finely shredded paper. He needs to kept warm.
do not put any heat lamps or anything like that , it would kill him..
get some kitten formula and a bottle or eyedropper and feed him every couple hours like you would a kitten.

update?

Awww, how sad, I used to have two rabbits Buddy and Thumper, but never saw them that little. If you leave it out it will prolly get eaten:eek:

I called wildlife rescue and they gave me numbers of 2 local places that can help. Both places were closed and it went to voicemail. I left my name and number. I feel so helpless. It was just curled up :(. At first I didn't think the poor thing was alive, but then I saw the chest go up and down.

if the wildlife is going to take it , can you bring inside for the night ?
it will surely die if left out in the open like that.

I could go on and on with the strange things that have happened with me and wildlife because our property bordered on a Nature Preserve. I would take it in and try your best to feed and take care of it until you can get ahold of someone. All you can do is try, it may not survive but atleast you tried and you will feel better knowing you did.

Did you call your local SPCA? They may know more info.

hi , i found this article on caring for orphaned rabbits.
unlike what i told you above , this says they should only be
fed twice per day.
if gives amount and what you should feed..

Caring for Orphans

Poor thing, I would drop it off @ the nearest vet...did that for a pigeon that had a broken wing.

We live in the country. I can't tell you how many times things like this happen. :(. I tried to save a baby bird one time. He didn't make it. :(. I would take it in and try until I could get help. If you leave it outside alone it won't make it for sure.

I would call a vet and ask if there are wildlife people around who might take it in.

Do you have a game and fish commission?

Is it in its nest? Seems like the mom bunny only comes around at night. I wouldn't disturb it. Let nature take its course. Unless its injured leave it be. What if the mom comes back at night and baby is not there?

I've been making calls but I haven't had any luck. I'm hesitant to bring it in just because what if the mom does come, since the rabbits seem to be more active at night. It's not in a nest though, it's pretty close to the sidewalk. Everything online says do not disturb. I feel like either way it's a tough call :(. I would be so upset if it passed away in my care, but I also don't want it to pass away outside. I still haven't decided what to do!! My bf is worried about it carrying a disease. I'm more worried about Brody barking at it and stressing the tiny thing out. I know the dogs would be able to smell the rabbit if its brought inside. :panic:

House Rabbit Society - Md, DC, & NoVA

Found this in your area, hopefully you can get ahold of someone on the list.

Good Luck

It is very unlikely that it will survive without its mother. Its quite possible that the mother rabbit is coming back to it tonight. They will leave their babies all day as they only feed a couple times each day. It is very likely that your dog's barking or just presence will scare the poor little thing to death. I would leave it be and hope the mom finds it.

This reminds me of when I was a little girl and I found a tiny baby rabbit. I tried to take care of it and feed it, but I didn't know how. I did what I could. It died and we had a baby rabbit funeral and buried it in an orchard in a shoe box. I had such a broken heart.:(

Did you call Colleen Layton at Frisky's Wildlife Sanctuary? She's the best there is! Here's her wildlife tips and contact info. Best wishes!

Frisky's Tips for Saving Spring Wildlife


For Tips on Bottle Feeding Deer (Fawns) Click Here
The first tip is DO NOT TOUCH THE ANIMAL WITH YOUR BARE HANDS! The second tip is make sure that it is really abandoned. Move far away and observe. The mother may be gathering food and will come back after you leave. After a period of time is determined to truly be abandoned or wounded, please procceed. If a dog, cat or person touches a baby animal, then the baby will need to be taken care of. Wear rubber or gardening GLOVES. If no gloves are available, then use a plastic grocery bag. DO NOT USE CLOTHES OR TOWELS SINCE THEY HAVE YOUR SCENT ON THEM AND WILL LEAVE THIS SCENT ON THE ANIMAL. Wearing gloves serves 3 purposes. First, it minimizes the amount of foreign scent that the animal can smell. This is important because all of these animals have a much greater sense of smell than we do, and smelling a foreign scent will greatly upset the animal, possibly even kill it. Second, it keeps your scent off the animal, thereby increasing the animal's chances of delivering it back to it's mother. Third, it protects you since these cute little animals could also be carrying LICE, PARASITES, FLEAS, LYME DISEASE, AND RABIES.


Put the animal in a secure box or animal carrier. Keep it shut. Keep personal pets away from the rescued animal since your pet's scent could upset the animal.


KEEP THE ANIMAL WARM by putting the box or carrier on top of heating pad (test heat - wrap in towels if too warm) set on low.


Use dry grass, leaves, or shredded paper towels for nesting material. Do not use clothes because of the scent problem.


Call your local veterinarian or your local wildlife shelter for advice or help; or bring it to Frisky's if you live close to Howard County, MD (best time to call is the afternoons at (410) 418-8899)

NOTE: IT IS AGAINST FEDERAL LAW TO HAVE WILDLIFE IN CAPTIVITY if you are not licensed to do so. Fines are given all the time on this, even if you are trying to help the animal.


If you can't reach Frisky's or the Local Vet, and you feel you must do something to prevent the animal from dehydrating or dying, then boil some water. This can be done easily using a small amount in a coffee cup in the microwave. Once it has completely cooled, give it to the animal to drink with an eye dropper. Start with a few drops. If it is an infant and needs formula, it should have a special wildlife formula not available to the public, but a few drops of human infant formula WITH IRON can be given. Wild mammals feed or nurse their young every 1/2 hour during daylight hours.



After feeding, place the animal on it's stomach on your gloved open left hand. Hold firm enough to keepm the animal still and stroke it with your gloved right hand to get out any air. In other words, help it "burp."



Next, take a Q-tip and cover it with Vaseline or Triple Antibiotic like Neosporin. Gently stroke the animals anal area with the Q-tip to encourage bowel movement. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO STIMULATE BOWEL AND BLADDER MOVEMENT TO PREVENT A BLOCKAGE. Many, many animals die due to intestinal problems.



Now, leave the animal ALONE until the next feeding. Keep it in a QUIET area, and keep family, friends and pets away. Don't try to overfeed the animal, thinking it will give them strength. The stress of new formula may cause diarrhea and could decrease the animal's chances of survival.



Take your found orphan to Frisky's or your local licensed Wildlife Sanctuary.

NOTE: Frisky's never charges for the care of sick or wounded animals. Donations for the care of the animals is encouraged and all donations are tax-deductible.


FRISKY'S WILDLIFE AND PRIMATE SANCTUARY
10790 Old Frederick Road
Woodstock, MD 21163
(410) 418-8899

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Excellent.....hopefully, it is still alive....bring it in, do as My Oscar said, and tomorrow you can contact a wildlife rehab....they will take it....hopefully, the ants have not found it...or a cat....or a dog.....please, bring it in and help it!

**update**
 

We opted not to bring the bunny inside. We were worried about the stress of moving it and that Brody would probably stress it out. I also would feel TERRIBLE if it died in my care. I just checked, it's still out there, ALIVE. I'm making more calls now in hopes to get it somewhere safe today.

This is great news! Hopefully the mom came home last night and fed it... We had a baby robin fall out of the tree in our backyard last summer and I chose not to bring it in and put it back up in the tree. I found it the next morning dead covered in ants :( Poor little guy...

I would NEVER make a great "naturalist" or one of those people that follow wildlife all over, photographing and recording daily life of wild creatures....I get too involved...can not help myself...been doing it for 60+ years, cant change now! I have "rehabed" hundreds of wild critters, hurt or orphaned babies, and released them back to the wild...have turned over anything that I felt I was not going to be able to successfully save, to wildlife rescues or bird sanctuaries....the rest, I have taken care of myself. I would be going ABSOLUTELY CRAZY knowing that baby is out there, alone....obviously the momma is not around or she would have already moved this baby BACK to its nest....they dont just lay on the ground by a sidewalk, and call that a nest! Fawns are routinely taken to an area and "planted" by their mommas while she goes a short distance away to eat....they are NOT abandoned or orphaned, and momma WILL come back for the baby...but that is NOT rabbit behavior.