Tips if you need to relocate a rabbit nest:bunny update archived

This evening, when i went into the yard with Gracie after dinner, she made a beeline for a foundation azalea next to the back step. Then I heard a baby bunny scream. She had him in her mouth. After some coaxing, she did drop it ( I had to lure her with chicken jerky---I knew she would prefer that to Lapin tartare) I put her back in the house and grabbed the rubber gloves and some paper towels (I didn't know if I was going to find a mess or a bunny) I found the bunny--alive-- , I wrapped him up in a paper towel and then set about finding the nest. When I located the nest, I remembered that I bookmarked a discussion on finding a baby squirrel, and Joy posted about a wildlife re-habber. She sent me her number in a whisper.
So I called, and this is what she told me

1. If at all possible, leave the nest alone---protect it if you must,but just wait, it only takes about 2 weeks for them to hop away.

2. If you HAVE to relocate the nest (I did) try to move it 10-25 feet from the original site. Make a small depression in the ground and fill it with the material from the nest (in this case--Gracie's hair)

3. Place the kits in the new nest, cover them with some of the nest material, then place light sticks or threads on top of the nest so that you can tell if the mother has been there to feed them. She leaves them alone and only comes back at dawn and dusk to nurse.

Check the nest twice a day. And hope for the best.
She said the mortality rate for hand raised bunnies is almost 100%, so if you keep them in the nest, at least they have a fighting chance.

I put 2 in the nest, but there was a third I didn't find. But of course Gracie did. She dropped him in the dark. Even though I went out there with a flashlight for an hour---put her on a leash and told her to "find the bunny" I didn't find it where she was sniffing.

I keep telling myself that I can't always save them all. But I am worried about marauding cats, and hawks and raccoons and lions and tigers and bears, oh my . :sad:

calli... you did a good deed! but I'd worry about those things too, getting to the babies. Hope for the best!
c/L

C/L,
I checked the relocated nest this morning after Gracie's walk. The nest was largely undisturbed---but the twigs were moved and the babies were gone. I hope mom moved them. I also walked around the yard with Gracie on leash, so she could use her nose and sniff out the other baby if she was still there. We got nuthin'.

So, C/L, I know Mother Nature is cruel, but I hope that mom found her babies ok and took care of them. It is out of my hands, now.

:sad:

When I had a nursing mom bun and her kits, mommy bunny only fed them morning and evening... and some times... but infrequently... she would return during the day to check on them. she ate ALOT and rested near the babies.
I bet you are right, mom moved them. If it was another animal, a predator would have disturbed the nest in a noticable way.

I checked the relocated nest when I got home from work today---the bunnies were both alive and active, even the one who was in Gracie's mouth.

I don't know what made me go back to the original nest site, but I found 3 more bunnies---2 alive. So I relocated the other 2 ---they are all popping like little Orville Redenbackers, so I assume the doe came back and fed both groups.

Fingers crossed.

And tomorrow I am meeting with a guy who does humane "evacuation" of squirrels who have chewed a hole in the corner of my garage roof and have taken up residence in the attic.

Welcome to Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.

calli, you have grandbuns! I am so happy to hear you found 2 others. And mum-bun seems to be a good mommy,finding her lost children and feeding them. Great job calli! AND GRACE, who found them first! You must admit, she was really good, giving up a baby bunny already in her mouth. Many many dogs would not have done that.

I haven't checked the nest yet this morning---not sure what I will find.
This is nerve wracking C/L. I just keep telling myself I did the best I could.

I have to keep working with Gracie on "Leave it" so she drops whatever it is on first command. I know her weakness for chicken jerky had more to do with her dropping it than my command. :confused:

Fingers crossed

See that? Your psyche is slowly, but quite deliberately, being assimilated into the Lepus Continuum. Your kind actions have not gone un-noticed, and The Nugget is quite pleased thus far. :thumbup:

You certainly did the best you could. Could not have done more, actually. Nature is cruel and I worry about all the things you worry about too. Often times I console myself with the thought that, had I not known they were there, nature would take it's course--whatever that might be--and I would have gone about my life completely unaware and unaffected by the outcome. In cases like this, at least for me, ignorance is definitely bliss. But, like you, if I KNOW about it, I have to DO something. Which is how I ended up with those kittens from OS's yard.

Exactly my sentiments, meand. I have this knot in my stomach, I can't get rid of, compounded by worry about what the squirrels have done to the attic and whether they have migrated from the garage to the living space.$$$$

It looks like the nesting material has been tamped down a little-- I believe the bunnies are under it, but I don't want to prod around in there. I am going to wait until about 6 o'clock to see if I see any signs of life.

Thanks Deffie--- I am doing the best I can and I just have to let nature take its course, I guess.

Posted By: calliopeThanks Deffie--- I am doing the best I can and I just have to let nature take its course, I guess.

Yeah, pretty much. Nature does have a habit of throwing curve balls every once in a while though. I mean we didn't see good 'ol Tip for almost a year, and then POOF, there he was again, in all his glory.

Calli...how is it going? Any sign of bunny life anywhere in your yard? Mother Nature is an impartial force at best. So... you did your part, did everything you could as Deffie said, now it is up to Mamma Bunny and her babies to do their thing.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
RE:Gracie... nothing wrong with incentive (chicken jerky) to keep focused! We take our pay check home, right? I think your big sweetheart will be looking for things to drop soon, LOL! She is no dummy; Gracie will soon start showing off her drop it skills just to see if chicken jerky is in anyone's pocket!

Oh, wow. How are the kits this morning, Calli? Any signs of them? I hope they make it...