OT: Baby Bunnie Nest - Help?

So, while I was off visiting IKEA with some gal pals, DH was hacking thru the jungle known as our backyard. When I came home, he showed me the lovely job - leaving only the very weed overgrown patio & one bed to be done. Followed by, ummm, we have critters in the yard - before we went to look. His explanation - well, in that patch over there to the right of the pine, where it looks a little low, well, it's got kind of grey fuzz over it, and seemed to be moving as I mowed by. Me "PLEASE TELL ME YOU DIDN'T CHOP ANYTHING!!!" Him, "NO" but, I did likely mow over, but it seems okay 'cause whatever is underneath squirmed. So, out we go, convincing our bird dog - who is better behaved than us - to "Leave IT" . We go to look, DH gets a pole/grabber thing and moves the fuzz - well, to be truthful I made him do it without me first 'cause I have big issues with tiny baby birds, just in case. So, now we both look - and keep convincing Puckster to stay back - which he does - about a foot, maybe. And as we're looking they have really big ears, and are moving about - finally we see some rear legs, and no tail and decide it's a nest of bunny babies - some seem about 3-4" long. Hard to tell. They're crammed in there, but looked like some open eyes. Mom not in sight. So, we cover them back and have to figure out what to do. Cause I'm sure it's a nest from the bunnies that seem to spend a lot of time under Cousin It out front. Evidently they dug a nest in the yard, and I guess mom gave birth there. But, now of course, the poor dog we're not letting follow his instinct. We were out with him a little later, and he goes near, clearly wants to sniff, but will actually listen to stay back - and then he does what nature says - goes into a full point position. After much brainstorming 'cause we're worried that the nest has no protection now from the birds, etc -since we cleaned up the yard - what to do. DH now built a lovely contraption - one of our resin tables with legs that splay out - wrapped it with chicken wire, put it over the nest - with the bird bath top on it for weight. The table is about 18" across, same height. We then went out and adjusted the wire, hoping it would be up high enough for mom to get in, and Puckster to stay out. He then came out with us and snoofled, laid down looking, but that's it. Whew. We were worried. Then, about 90 min later, DH saw the likely mom go scampering from the front and up the drive, around the side. I'm cooking dinner, and wander to go look out the sunroom doors - sure enough, there's a big pair of rabbit ears sitting inside, under the table, and evidently licking/feeding the babies. At least I hope that's what she was doing, not eating them. Later she slid out under the wire, and came to sit at the stairs up to the sunroom, grooming herself. She's aptly kind of red-brown, with a little bit of stripe on either side of her face.

Point of this all being - does anyone have suggestions. DH figures I should bring some lettuce out and lay it by the makeshift hutch. At least this give the little things some protection from the birds (like the mean jays & mockingbirds - I don't think our resident nesting robins will do anything) and the weather. The dog has now been moving from the sunroom to the sliders in the breakfast room sitting with his nose to the glass and whining. But, we tried to explain to him that even though he'd like to play with his new buddies, they would likely die of fright. Truthfully, he's never brought us a trophy - only seen him whimper, try to protect a hurt bunny or once a young squirrel that fell out of his nest. Not touch them.

I'm going to call the county extension or wildlife service - this is a big horse and farming county - and see if there's anything we should know. And Puckster will be thrilled to get more leash walks - at least when the mommy bunny is there. When she's not, if one of us is in the yard, I think he'll be okay to ramble.

Again - any ideas? I guess this is an apt Mother's Day.

Ellice

Reply to
Ellice K.
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*big snip*

So, while I know it's odd to reply to myself, here's the follow-up. All through people dinner, and for the next housr, the dog progresses from just looking and an occassional whimper to finally full out whining. We're watching Doc Martin, and then hockey, and the dog gets more insistent. DH has already done a mile walk with him. He's just sitting there, looking like a big, floppy, stuffed animal, splayed out, with the tongue out, and whimper/whining. Finally we're joking, and trying to get him to just settle, and we start talking about wondering if the dog just wants to check on the bunnies. After all, he must've known they were there - I know he disappears under the deck, where I assume more adult bunnies hang out. Just cause we didn't know means nothing. After all, the dog rambles around the yard a lot - several times a day. So, maybe we're anthropomorphizing, maybe not. Anyhow, we go outside -it's quite dark - and just put on the little lite by the breakfast room - about 50' from the psuedo-hutch. DH goes and sits on the little stone wall near that - in the dark. The dog rambles over, puts his nose down, maybe 6" away, sniffs, walks around the table-legs

- sniffs a little, doesn't try to move anything, and then backs away, catches some scent, runs to where the mom had been grooming by the sunroom, and then proceeds to do his normal patrol the perimeter. Does another track following the presumed bunny trail thru some yard, under the deck, back around. Takes a quick walk around the babies - from a foot away, and on his own just heads back across the patio, up the deck and goes right past me to the door to go in. No whining, that's it. So, we're now utterly astonished, and figure indeed the dog, to use DH's words, must've in some way decided he's the surrogate dad, the babies are in his demesne, and darn it he needs to be sure they're allright. No whimpering - he's now doing the dog happy face, and all is good. Of course he got lots of good dog comments and pats, but still. I guess it all goes to point out the wonders of nature. We still kind of marvel that all he wanted to do was not chase the bunnies, but just be sure they're all still there & ok. Seriously - his whining prior was reminiscent of his puppyhood when he was left behind a gate and wanted to come out....

Oh, well - back to whatever previously schedule program was on the agenda. And big yelps of woohoo here, as the Predley's just scored again and might have a chance to get past Vancouver (sorry my Canadian friends, but, DH is old friends with David Poile, the Nashville GM, and we like Coach Trotz)

Ellice

Reply to
Ellice K.

When we lived in Lizard Land, Reno (Black Cat) would bring "friends" home to play. One time she brought home a baby bunny who wasn't even as long as my hand. I contacted the Bunny Rescue Lady in the area and she told me that carrots were better than lettuce for the bunnies. Also, you might put out some water so that mom bunny won't have to go as far away and leave the babies for too long. I should think that food would be easy for mom bunny to get but water might be a bit more problematical. Please, keep us posted on how things go with the bunny nursery project, OK? And give Puckster a treat for being such a good "guard" dog for the baby bunnies :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth; nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Tia Mary

Reply to
Tia Mary

Thanks, Mary. No doubt you're right. We were a little concerned, as he's gotten into the senior years, he's become a bit more stubborn (not unlike human males) - as in resisting moving from some place he's not supposed to be, etc. And, instinct is what it is. DH - who never had a big pet (only budgies before) and was resistant to getting a dog - is so enamored of Puckster that it's astonishing. Consequently, he's like a proud dad, all pleased with how good the dog is being. He went out with me this morning, and essentially did the same thing - went right over, sniffed around the bunny place, rambled a bit, then went back and sat down near it, just on guard. Too cute. I suspect the only thing that will be an issue now is his whining when he thinks it's time to go check on them (as happened this morning) and what does happen when the bunnies are bigger.

I'm going to go give him a special breakfast treat, and be sure to tell him it's from you! I'm sure the kitties get the same at your place.

Ellice

*snip*
Reply to
Ellice K.

Thanks- that's kind of what I thought. I'm sure they'll appreciate the lovely organic carrots. There is an auto-waterer dish on the patio - which I believe the mom bunny uses. DH saw her getting a drink last night. I'll try to put something closer to the nest. Will keep things posted.

And of course I have to tell the lawn people that they cannot put stuff down in the back yard - don't want mutant bunnies.

Ellice

Reply to
Ellice K.

Preferably not lettuce, Ellice, particularly for mothers with babies, or the babies themselves. Lettuce contains laudenum - you may send them all to sleep! Cabbage, carrot etc., is fine, but not lettuce! You could even treat them to some rabbit food from a pet store, but I shouldn`t think you need worry too much - their mother is bound to find something to eat.

Lucky you - hope they all thrive despite the shock they must have had!

Pat P

Reply to
Pat P

Thanks for the lettuce advice. I'm sure the mother has been finding plenty in our weed patch, and other plants all coming in. No real activity today, but DH, myself, and Puckster are trying to keep an eye on things, and not bother them. Hopefully the babies are fine - they still seem little enough to be sleeping in their nest all the time - so no way to know. But, time will tell.

Ellice

Reply to
Ellice K.

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