Need help baby bunnies found, very young

[LindaR]

Hello everyone!!


I need help, my husband just found a nest/litter of baby bunnies in our garden space in the back yard. He was trimming down weeds when he found the nest. unfortunately if we leave it there my dogs (pug, cocker/sheltie, and bullmastiff) will surely sniff them out and destroy them. The bunnies are are approximately a week old, if that. There is no way I can rehab them. I need to relocate them somehow and soon. Anyone who can help?? I am located in North west Indiana region.

Thank you so much!!:Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

Can you place a cage or something that the mama bunny can go into but your dogs cannot? Moving them at this young age will most likely kill them. Bunnies are extremely difficult to rehab.

[LindaR]

Hi CritterM:Love_Icon:Love_Iconom!!


I can try, I called a rehaber on the list provided by dnr for my location. SHe refused them and refused to help in any way. She is also the same one who denied me mentorship when I wanted to obtain a rehabing license. I'm just not sure how to go about it cuz I have an 8 month old, 115lb bullmastif pup who loves to romp around in the area the babies are. Since the tall grass has been cut do you think the mom will come back? maybe I can just leash my dogs to prevent them from getting to the babies.

[CritterMom]

That would be wonderful. To know whether mom comes home - she will come home and feed them at night then she is gone in the AM - go out and lay two pieces of twine in an X over the nest. If it is messed up in the morning, mom was there. If you can throw some of the chopped down weeds back over there, that would be nice, too. They grow fast...

[LindaR]

Thank you so much CritterMom!! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:grouphug:thumbsup

[Squirlgirl]

PLEASE yes!:glomp leash walk the pups!:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon
Mom is THE BEST choice Always, she will come back.To ensure that Mom has come, do as Crittermom said and make an X or tic tac toe pattern over the nest, with string. They do grow quickly and are difficult to rehab, unless you have all the correct bun tools and an experienced eye to see what they are up to next, I still hold my breath until they are released. If you have a fenced yard you can put a small round laundry basket over the nest and weight over it, while the dogs run and you guard the nest. Momma Bunny is never too far away. It took her quite some time to choose her nest site and learn when you first let the dogs out and the last time at night....technically, your dogs (in her mind) keep away the predators. Thank you, for caring and good luck! :w00t:grouphug

[LindaR]

Thank you squirlgirl!!

The bunnies are doing great! Momma keeps coming back which is a huge relief. Thank you and crittermom for the great advise!! Always the best as usual!! :Love_Icon:grouphug:serene

[Mommaluvy]

PLEASE yes!:glomp leash walk the pups!:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon
Mom is THE BEST choice Always, she will come back.To ensure that Mom has come, do as Crittermom said and make an X or tic tac toe pattern over the nest, with string. They do grow quickly and are difficult to rehab, unless you have all the correct bun tools and an experienced eye to see what they are up to next, I still hold my breath until they are released. If you have a fenced yard you can put a small round laundry basket over the nest and weight over it, while the dogs run and you guard the nest. Momma Bunny is never too far away. It took her quite some time to choose her nest site and learn when you first let the dogs out and the last time at night....technically, your dogs (in her mind) keep away the predators. Thank you, for caring and good luck! :w00t:grouphug

Good post . I'm in Ohio... But yes this would be best case scenario . Lease walk and watch the nest with the x or tic tac toe as mentioned.

And yes.. She may have choice your yard LOL for the protection your dogs provide..

If the dogs know where the nest of squeaky toys are though.. The basket may not work.

I have 4 7-10 day old buns right now where that was not a good idea. Two got mildly injured.