# Identify this creature? Baby rabbit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588 "2004-09-15T19:46:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Parallax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Parallax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parallax)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/1 "2004-09-15T19:46:26Z")
To make a long story short - can you identify this creature? [Picture](http://kaczorzoo.net/dcp_1052.jpg) Our dog trashed a nest of them in the middle of our yard - we found two of them dead but we don’t know if she did it or if they died of something else. If left alone she would have killed the rest of them so we had to move the nest. This means that the mother probably lost track of them so we don’t know what we should do about them. They look like baby rabbits - is there something we should be giving them so they can take care of themselves? Should we be taking care of them? Seems like we should call some sort of animal rescue? Any help is appreciated. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Parallax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Parallax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parallax)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/2 "2004-09-15T20:21:06Z")
On the assumption that they are rabbits we called around - the basic response was to just put them back but we can’t do that since the dog will kill them. We’re not sure what to do at this point. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/3 "2004-09-15T20:29:23Z")
Awww, so cute… That’s a baby rabbit, all right. Probably your standard-issue [Eastern Cottontail.](http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesSH.asp?curGroupID=5&shapeID=1036&curPageNum=10&recnum=MA0068) Try calling your local Humane Society. They’ll probably know of any local wildlife-rescue agencies. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/4 "2004-09-15T20:33:35Z")
Well all the places I called said they didn’t take babies as they would just die ☹ ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/5 "2004-09-15T21:01:54Z")
I know squat about baby rabbits, but it looks like [these people](http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/orphan.html) do. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/6 "2004-09-15T22:20:18Z")
Gawd-DAMN that thing is sure cute. I think that may be the cutest picture I’ve ever seen on these boards (kids excepted, of course:)). After looking at that link, it looks like you’ll be rebuilding the nest(?). Good luck!!! ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/7 "2004-09-15T23:26:27Z")
And here is another bunny in need of rescue! [http://www.krohm.net/bernd.htm](http://www.krohm.net/bernd.htm) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/8 "2004-09-16T00:09:16Z")
If you hide behind a large rock, make noises like a carrot, the mommy rabbit will show herself. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bdandhr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@bdandhr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdandhr)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/9 "2004-09-16T00:21:51Z")
Just personal experience (kind of), but my daughter recently tried to save a baby rabbit by bringing it into her home and it didn’t work. ☹ Broke her heart. I have no advice - but best of luck, because the little critter in your photo is really cute. Not meaning to sound like a downer, but your scent on the one you picked up may be enough to keep the mother from reconnecting with the brood, and I don’t know what you can do about that. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/10 "2004-09-16T00:24:22Z")
I have successfully nursed baby rabbits, but it was a long time ago and I forget the formula recipe. If you’re going to raise them–they do make great pets–get on it right away. You’ll need to find the proper temperature to set the heating pad in the bottom of the box you’ll set up, and when and what to feed them. Pet stores sell dog formula and cat formula; they might be a good starting point. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/11 "2004-09-16T00:26:20Z")
Found this; looks pretty comprehensive. [http://www.squirrelworld.com/RabRehab.html](http://www.squirrelworld.com/RabRehab.html) ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/12 "2004-09-16T06:22:13Z")
I went to the ‘Bernd’ site,and after reading about what the vicious monster planned to do with Bernd if his terms weren’t met,I immediately e-mailed him with a two word riposte that simply said,“Bon appetite”. Never give in to terrorist’s demands! (I have to get that recipe. Looked yummy.) ---
**Author:** ![Donovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@Donovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donovan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/13 "2004-09-16T09:45:04Z")
> [@bdandhr](#): > > Not meaning to sound like a downer, but your scent on the one you picked up may be enough to keep the mother from reconnecting with the brood, and I don’t know what you can do about that. Do you have any good cite to back that up? I grew up hearing that, but was told by someone who worked with wildlife that mamillian mothers (with birds its a moot point as most can’t smell well enough to tell the difference) will recognize their young despite the smell, and they will not abandon them if they smell funny - it would be ‘evolutionally stupid’ to throw away all of the work/energy put into the young so far just because they smell a tad funny. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/14 "2004-09-16T10:27:50Z")
> [@Parallax](#): > > On the assumption that they are rabbits we called around - the basic response was to just put them back but we can’t do that since the dog will kill them. We’re not sure what to do at this point. We’ve had similar problems in the past. Mama rabbit was determined to build her nest right in the middle of dog central. The first year, half of the rabbits were eaten by my dog, and half by the neighbors dog, despite our best attempts to prevent it. The next year mama rabbit built her nest in exactly the same place. We talked to our vet, who gave us detailed instructions about how to care for them, and also warned us that baby rabbits are very hard to care for. He was right. They all died. Either path you choose is going to be difficult. There’s a reason rabbits produce so many offspring. Most of them are going to die, even without human/dog intervention. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/15 "2004-09-16T20:50:02Z")
> [@Parallax](#): > > To make a long story short - can you identify this creature? > > [Picture](http://kaczorzoo.net/dcp_1052.jpg) Yep, that’s a baby bunny, just like we had in our yard [this summer](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=262964&highlight=baby+bunnies). They sure are cute, aren’t they? A mommy bunny built a nest right in the middle of our yard, a yard that smells of dog. We had to take the dog out on a leash, or just stay out there with her while they were still in the nest. My kids insisted on picking them up and cuddling them, and the mommy still came back in the early morning and at dusk and nursed them. There were five of them, and they got bigger and bigger every day. Eventually two left the nest and then the next day one more was gone and then the last two left. My kids were so sad, but insist that the rabbits they see around the yard are “their” babies. ---
**Author:** ![bdandhr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@bdandhr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdandhr)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/16 "2004-09-16T23:51:27Z")
**Donovan** , I have no cite - only personal experiences from raising the ninth redbone coonhound pup out of a litter and trying to save many baby lambs. The mother would never claim the baby in any case. The pup made it, but I would have to say quite a few of the lambs didn’t. It is a huge commitment, but it can be successful, albeit difficult and time-consuming. I think back and wonder how I did it sometimes! ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-creature-baby-rabbit/264588/17 "2004-09-19T19:27:44Z")
IANA Vet, but my big dumb girl dog LOVES to bring me the baby bunnies from our yard…Very Lenny…She likes to play with them. The last batch still had their eyes closed and I couldn’t find the nest, so they didn’t make it…BUT…the batch before DID make it. It looks like your guys have their eyes open, but their ears are not perked up yet (not the best sign). You can get a baby dropper and some goats milk (NOT COW) and feed them until they are about the size of a baseball. I take the babes and put them in a hole in the front yard with some dryer fluff and any hair I can find from the mama (or donated fur from my bunny Mr. Oliver Pinklestein) with some bunny food. It is best to put them under ground cover and you can check on them to see if mom returns – or to remove the ones that did not make it. Half the time, they jump around the area but return to the hole to snuggle with each other. I feed the bunnies around my front yard (why they go through the fence and nest where my dogs are is beyond me!) so it is possible that the mom returned. Keep us posted!