07/20/2021
Help, I found a rabbit! Itās not uncommon to find a bunny or nest in the spring and summer time. I wrote this guide for identifying a wild rabbit and what you should do with it when you find it. Please share for the benefit of our native wildlife!
Identifying a wild rabbit:
What does a wild rabbit look like?
-small
-brown
-underside of tail is white
-small, upright ears
-long, thin legs
-lean bodies
-long, narrow faces and eyes
-wedge shaped heads
If the rabbit is a broken pattern, a solid color other than brown (some domestics are still brown, so donāt judge just off color), or has lopped ears, then it is absolutely a domestic rabbit. If the rabbit approaches you outside, it is absolutely domesticated- a wild rabbit would never approach a human. Now, are you sure youāve found a wild rabbit? If so, continue below-
Help, I found an adult wild rabbit!
evaluate- is the rabbit injured?
no? leave the rabbit alone, it is more capable of caring for itself than you are
yes? leave the rabbit alone, keep an eye on it from a distance, and contact a licensed wildlife rehabber
If the rabbit is in immediate danger, throw a towel over it to move it to a safer area or into a carrier until the rehabber arrives. Adult rabbits can and will bite, twist, and kick to get themselves free from your grasp
Do not attempt to catch or feed a healthy wild rabbit. They are wild for a reason, they have survived all this time without human intervention. Wild rabbits are a different species than our pets and will not get along, they are so far removed that they canāt even interbreed. Removing a wild rabbit from its habitat is a death sentence, please admire from afar.
Help, I found a wild bunny!
evaluate- is the baby injured?
yes? call a licensed wildlife rehabber, keep the baby in a safe area and wait for the rehabber to arrive
DO NOT attempt to care for the baby yourself. Not only is this illegal, it is very difficult. Without proper training, you are just as likely to kill the baby as save it
no? then you need to determine how old the bunny is
if the bunny is mostly hairless with its eyes closed, you need to find the warren- the bunnyās nest- and return it
the warren often looks like a patch of dead grass. It will be a shallow divot in the ground, covered in grass clippings and mamaās fur. It could be in the middle of your yard or tucked against a building or underneath a bush. You may have to check neighboring yards with permission. You could also try waiting until dawn or dusk, the times that mom will visit the nest to feed
if the bunny is fully haired, with open eyes and the ability to walk, leave the bunny alone. If the bunny is in immediate danger, cover it with a towel and move it to safety. Although baby bunnies look cute and defenseless, they are more than capable of caring for themselves from a very young age.
Do not attempt to raise a wild bunny. Not only is it illegal, it is also very difficult and youāll likely end up killing the bunny. Removing them from the wild is a death sentence, you cannot domesticate a wild rabbit. Even if they seem comfortable for a few weeks, eventually they will pass away from the stress of being repeatedly exposed to a predator(humans are predators).
Help, I found an abandoned wild rabbit nest!
evaluate- is the nest really abandoned?
remember, mom only visits the nest twice a day to deter predators. Wait until dawn or dusk and watch for a few hours to see if mom stops by, she more than likely will.
if mom doesnāt come back for more than twelve hours, contact a licensed wildlife rehabber. Do not attempt to move or feed the babies.
Contact the Ohio Wildlife Center at 614-734-9453
Picture from Buckeye House Rabbit Society
