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Mother rabbit is probably close by, but she visits the nest only at night.
To nurse her young, it is necessary for her to
straddle the nest. Because she cannot hide herself in so shallow a nest, she
exposes herself and the young to predation and therefore feeds her babies only
under cover of darkness. Because her milk is so rich and fatty, her young are
nursed only once or twice each night.
4)
The disturbance of a nest by children, dogs, cats, crows, etc.
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If children have discovered a nest, determine immediately if the young have been handled or touched. If so, rub vanilla extract on your hands, and place a drop of vanilla on each rabbits head and tail. Return young to the nest, reassemble nesting material, and sprinkle a few drops on top.
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If a nest has been disturbed by crows, cover the nest with a laundry basket during daylight hours and remove the basket at dusk.
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If a dog has found a nest, cover the nest with wheelbarrow or lawnmower during daytime and uncovered it at dusk if the dog is one that can be brought in at night. If a dog is kept in yard 24 hours a day, protect the young and call the clinic.
5)
Dog or cat brought baby rabbit home and location of the nest is unknown,
-
Occasionally, if a dog or cat is leashed, it may be expected to lead you back
to the nest and if the rabbit is uninjured, it may be replaced using vanilla treatment.
Please walk your dog or cat on leash for a week or so, until the young have dispersed
from the nest .
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If the nest cannot be located, the rabbit is uninjured and old enough (use the guide to
determine age), it may be released to a sheltered location at dusk (under pines or conifers
or low, dense shrubbery). Until that time, keep it in a darkened box with non- raveled towels
or baby blankets. (Never use cotton balls as artificial nesting materials.) The rabbit should
not be handled or stressed in any way.
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If the nest cannot be located and the rabbit is too young to be released, please call the clinic.
6)
The nest has flooded and live young are found nearby:
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Dry them off carefully and contain them in a box with non-raveled towels or baby blankets
to nestle in, and keep them warm with heating pan on lowest setting placed under a portion
of the box. Tiny rabbit young are unable to control their body temperature and if they are
cold to the touch, some source of warmth must be provided. Replace them in the nest at dusk
if the nest has drained sufficiently so that mother rabbit can resume her care. She is far
better able to care for her young than any well-meaning rescuer might be!
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|
Age |
Characteristics |
| Newborns |
Pink bellies, sleek dark fur
(like seals) |
| 5-6 days |
Fully furred |
| 7-8 days |
Ears stand up |
| 10 days |
Eyes open |
| 12-14 days |
Able to hop, nibbling solid food |
| 21-28 days |
Ears 1' long - 2 finger width, body
fist-sized, covering most of an open hand and able to live independently |
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