Care of Orphan Bunnies

Like most baby mammals, bunnies are extremely vulnerable, especially when they are orphaned. Caring for orphan bunnies requires adequate preparation, patience and commitment. In most cases the job is better left up to professional animal rehabilitators. You should never remove bunnies that appear to be orphaned from the wild unless you are 100% certain the mother has died or has truly abandoned her young. Chances are if you do find bunnies alone in their nest the mother is nearby and you should not interfere unless you believe their safety is at stake.

  1. When to Intervene

    • Deciding whether or not to intervene with orphan bunnies is a tough decision but one that could mean life or death for the helpless little creatures. Mother rabbits only feed their young for a few minutes a day and essentially ignore them the rest of the time; therefore, if you find a nest full of little bunnies with no mother in sight, this does not mean you should remove them. The mother's absence is normal behavior. If you know the mother is dead, however, or see that the bunnies look particularly unhealthy--if they've been abandoned they may look wrinkled, cold, bluish and malnourished--by all means do what you can to rescue them. Contact a wildlife refuge and place the bunnies in professional care. If this is not an option, you can care for the orphan bunnies yourself.

    General Care

    • When caring for orphan bunnies, be extra sensitive and place them in a quiet, safe place where they will feel warm and secure. A small box lined with a soft towel works well as a makeshift nest. Make sure there are no loose ends or threads in which the bunnies could get tangled. Keep the room dimly lit and keep the box out of reach of children, pets, and other potential harm. Always wash your hands with mild disinfectant before handling the bunnies, as they will likely have weak immune systems at this stage in their lives. Try to handle the bunnies as little as possible to minimize stress. Do not use electric heating pads or other heating source as this could cause fatal overheating.

    Feeding

    • Feeding orphaned bunnies is challenging and should be done using the utmost care. Baby rabbits need vitamin rich milk to grow properly. Kitten milk replacer or Meyenberg goat milk are good substitutes for the mother's milk. Only feed the bunnies twice a day. Overfeeding is a common cause of death among orphaned bunnies, so be sure to follow this rule as strictly as possible. For very young babies, you will need to stimulate urination and defecation. Do this by gently rubbing the genital area with a warm, wet cloth.