However, there are situations where intervention might be necessary. Here's a guide:
Signs a baby bunny needs help:
* Obvious injury: If the bunny is clearly injured, bleeding, or has a broken limb.
* Abandonment: If the nest is disturbed, destroyed, or the mother is gone and the bunnies are cold and crying.
* Hunger: If the bunnies are thin, weak, or have not been fed.
What to do if you find a baby bunny:
1. Observe from a distance: Watch the nest for a few hours to see if the mother returns.
2. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator: If the bunny needs help, call your local wildlife rescue or rehabilitation center. They are equipped to handle and care for orphaned or injured wildlife.
3. Don't touch the bunny: Human scent can deter the mother from returning.
4. Cover the nest: If the nest is disturbed, gently cover it with grass or leaves to provide insulation.
If you must handle the bunny:
* Wear clean gloves: This prevents transferring your scent to the bunny.
* Handle gently: Baby bunnies are fragile and their bones can easily break.
* Keep warm: Use a heating pad set on low or a warm towel to keep them warm.
* Do not feed: Only a wildlife rehabilitator can provide the proper nutrition and care.
Important Considerations:
* It is illegal to keep a wild bunny as a pet. They have specific needs that cannot be met in a domestic setting.
* Only wildlife rehabilitators are qualified to care for wild animals.
* Never try to re-home a wild bunny: They are adapted to their environment and will not thrive in a human-controlled habitat.
By contacting a wildlife rehabilitator, you can help ensure the bunny's well-being and its chance to return to the wild.