My Dog Found a Bunny Nest and Now I'm Responsible for Baby Rabbits

You're now a bunny mom, at least temporarily. This can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it also requires a lot of care and attention.

Baby rabbits are born blind and helpless, so they rely on their mother's warmth and milk for survival.

You'll need to provide a safe and warm environment for the baby rabbits, with a temperature range of 85-90°F (29-32°C).

The baby rabbits will need to be fed every 2-3 hours around the clock, using a bottle and a specialized milk formula.

Bunnies can't digest cow's milk, so you'll need to use a high-quality rabbit milk replacer.

For your interest: My Dog Killed a Baby Bunny Should I Be Worried

Leave the nest alone! Rabbits hide their nests in plain view, often in the middle of the lawn or in brush piles and long grass.

If you find a nest that's been disturbed, do all you can to restore and protect it rather than bringing the infants inside. If a dog has discovered the nest, keep your dog away from the area and reconstruct the nest with grasses.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Bunny Nest

The milk is very rich and the babies "fill up" to capacity within minutes. This means they don't need to be fed constantly, and you shouldn't try to feed them.

Mother rabbits don't "sit" on the babies to keep them warm like some mammals and birds. Instead, they build a nest with fur and grasses to keep the babies warm in between feedings.

If you come across a nest of bunnies in the wild and the mother is nowhere to be seen, please don't disturb them. This is normal, and removing them from the nest greatly reduces their chances of survival.

If your dog disturbs a nest or you find a wild bunny with its eyes open, please put him back if not injured. Mom will be coming back at night to call and feed him once in the middle of the night.

Take a look at this: What to Feed Dogs without Dog Food

Mother rabbits tend to leave their babies unattended for long periods of time, only returning a twice a day (at dawn and dusk) to feed, groom, and check up on them.

Unless you're certain that there's a problem, the best thing you can do is try to restore the nursery to the way it was before someone disturbed it.

You can put the babies back (if they've been picked up and handled) and try to find the grass/fur drape that originally hid them.

If the grass/fur drape has been destroyed, just shred some dry grass and camouflage the babies as best as you can.

Don't hang around the nest longer than you need to, as this may attract attention to the area and put the kits in real danger.

You run the risk of attracting animals (especially predators) to the area, so just take care of business and then walk away.

If your dog found a bunny nest, you might be wondering what to do next. Leave the babies alone if their eyes are still closed, they look plump, and are snuggled up together.

You may never see the mother return to the nest, but that doesn't mean the babies are abandoned. She only feeds them once or twice a day, usually between dusk and dawn.

Check the babies' bellies in the morning to see if they're full and fat. This is a good sign that the mother is taking care of them.

Keep your pets away from the nesting area, as they can harm the babies. Cottontails typically leave the nest at 3-4 weeks old.

If you find a small rabbit hopping around that's too young to be on its own, remember that if it's as big as a tennis ball and can run away, it doesn't need your help.

If the babies are injured or in need of assistance, follow these steps:

You've just discovered a nest of baby bunnies on your property, and your first instinct might be to rush in and try to help them. However, it's essential to take a step back and assess the situation carefully.

Most people are happier to discover baby bunnies than other wildlife, like opossums or raccoons. However, humans who find them are often left wondering what to do next.

The discovery of a rabbit's nest can be a shock, but it's crucial to remember that baby bunnies have a good chance of survival if left alone.

A unique perspective: Dog Eating Dust Bunnies