Baby Rabbits need help

[Theresa Roalstad]

Let my dogs out this morning and they found a rabbits nest in the middle of my front yard. Got them away and no damage was done but I have been waiting to see the mother come back and has not. I have many stray cats around and do not think the babies will make it, not to mention it is a shallow nest in an open front yard. If anyone knows who can take care of these little ones I would be grateful.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:Welcome :wave123
Thank you for helping the bunnies...
Please keep your dogs away...

can you tell us how big they are?
and what county you are in...

Someone with bun bun experience will be on soon.
:bowdown

[Theresa Roalstad]

Thanks! I will keep the dogs away. I live In Canton, SD USA. Its about 20 min from Sioux Falls. I didn't mess with the nest much after I saw what it was for fear that my smell would drive the mother away (think the dog smell did that). They are around three inches long and have baby fuzz for hair and eyes are still closed. Looks to be about four or so babies in the nest.

[CritterMom]

I don't do bunnies but have read enough threads on here to know this:

Mama bunny leaves the babies at daybreak and does not return until evening. If you take two small pieces of yarn or twine and use it to make a little X across the top of the nest, the next morning it will likely be disturbed because mama returned to nurse. In other words, babies without a mama by day is NORMAL.

If there is a way to put some sort of barrier around the area to keep the cats away that won't stop mama, you will get to watch these cuties grow up.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Crittermom posted good advice. You want to remake the nest and try to clean up as much of the fur that was scattered around as possible and then put two pieces of string over the nest in an X and see if the mom comes back tonight. She won't be around until about 9 PM, so it's normal that you haven't seen her.

You can touch the babies, the mom doesn't care as long as none are injured. I have even had people with kids and dogs that were unwilling to leave the babies alone bring the babies inside in a box for the day and put them in a quiet area and then put them back in the nest outside around 7 PM and pull them back in around 8 or 9 AM and the mom still cared for the babies and they did great. It is always best for them to be with their mom if at all possible. There are sooooooooooooooo many babies that need help that any that can be left alone should be. Plus their mom does a much better job raising them than we ever could.

Good luck, I hope the mom comes back tonight and the babies do great.

[Theresa Roalstad]

Hello. Thanks for everyone's help. It is 10 pm now and no sign of mom. I have secured the area with a garden fence the mom can easily get through and put two string in an x over the nest. I am not sure what would need to be done in the morning if she is not back. I am asking now so that someone may have some time to post. Please advise. Again thanks so much for the help you have all given

[Theresa Roalstad]

Just an update. The little ones mom did come last night as the string was mushed around in the perfectly made nest. Saw her across the street this morning eating. I will now look forward to seeing little rabbits around my yard soon. The three baby squirrels in my Maple Tree will have some new company. Thanks for all the advise.
This is Scrat one of my Sister's little girls having fun in a tree.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Awesome news!

Cute squirrel.