Orphaned Wild Rabbits

The first consideration when acquiring an orphan bunny is to make sure it’s actually an orphan.  Wild rabbit mothers are rarely to never seen in or around the den to avoid attracting unwanted attention from predators.  They only feed their young once or twice a day and only at dawn or twilight.

Another myth to dispel is that wild mothers will abandon their young if a human has touched them or they smell like a human.  This is simply not true.  Just because they’re wild doesn’t mean they’re bad parents.  Would you abandon your infant child just because they smell funny?

If you find baby bunnies unattended, put them back!  Taking them without going through the following steps is kidnapping and their mother will be missing them!

1. Place the baby bunnies back in the hole where you found them (or better yet, don’t take them out in the first place)
2. Place flour in a circle all around the hole.
3. Wait a minimum of 24 hours – some rabbit mothers only feed once daily.
4. If the flour has been disturbed, mom is still alive and caring for them properly.
5. If the flour has not been disturbed, take them directly to a wildlife refuge, such as the Lake Erie Science and Nature Center.  Do NOT attempt to care for orphaned bunnies yourself!  Baby bunnies are very fragile and need trained professional care in order to survive once orphaned.

Related Articles

Basic Rabbit Care
Basic Rabbit Care
Litter Training the House Rabbit
Rabbit Behavior
Basic Guinea Pig Care