Today adopted a 5-6 mo. old wild cottontail rabbit

Question
QUESTION: Hello Dana, I don't know if this is a poser for you.  Today I took into our home sanctuary a cottontail rabbit.

This bunny is about the size of a dwarf without the roundness, very lean but healthy.  He was found by someone under a deck during a thunderstorm and kept by this person for 3 months.  I don't know how old the bunny was when found but probably very, very young.  Then, he was given up by this person and ended up as a rescue in a petstore hoping someone would adopt him.  Perhaps that was for a month or two, not sure.  

The woman in the petstore felt sorry for the bunny and brought him to her home a few days ago and put him in a protected outside hutch but he was still very, very nervous.

I was put in contact with her and she came today to leave him with me as I agreed to take him in.  I have all kinds of experience with domesticated rabbits as rescues, but I've been reading about cottontails and now worried he won't live as long as his domesticated 'cousins' and that I'll do something wrong.

He is pretty stressed of course, not knowing me but he's in a large indoor pen right now and relaxing, also very active, checking out our other bunnies who happen to be running around loose.  He's also checking out our pet rats through the jungle gym cage bars.

I don't want to set him free and I don't believe he'll survive now anyway so is there any help you can give me or have you ever come across this similar situation?  Like I said, I'm guessing he's 5 or 6 mo. old but so small it seems.

Thanks,
Paula

ANSWER: Dear Paula,

Some cotties can live very happily in a human household, but it truly depends on the personality of the rabbit.  If this little guy is really very nervous and runs away from people, then it would really be in his best interest for you to contact a local wildlife rehabilitator and find out about properly rehabbing and finally releasing this little guy into a safe environment where there are other cottontails.  If he's only a few months old, he is certainly not too old to release.  Cotties are very intelligent and adaptable, and it would not take long to get him to a state where he'd be competent for release.

If he is relatively calm and friendly, and shows insufficient fear of other animals and humans to survive in the wild at this point, then it might be kinder to let him stay with you.  But living with a cottie is very different from living with a domestic rabbit.

Don't ever expect to be able to hold or pet this little guy.  He will be a roommate more than a "pet" (though I don't consider any of my rabbit pals to be "pets").  You will also need a vet who is willing to treat him, if he becomes ill.

Cotties can be *very* aggressive when they reach sexual maturity, and they will show no compunction about fighting with domestics.  Our own sanctuary cotties have been extremely sweet and friendly with the hares (jackrabbits), but really do not like the company of the domestics.  They either avoid them or will even attack them.  And the feeling seems to be mutual.  :(  

So we might have to figure this out with a little back-and-forth.  First:  what's his personality like?  Does he tolerate your presence, or is he very cringey and nervous when humans are around?  If you can tell me that, then we can go on from there.

Dana








---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dana, thank you.  First of all going by when cotties breed, have their 1st litter, I figure he's more 4-5 mo. old.  He'll come over and sniff my ankle if I'm in his pen, he only gets very nervous, jumpy if I go to pet him (of course) but we've only had him for under 1 week.

He will lie down, even long legs sticking out, but many times he goes back & forth when he's in his own pen, not the exercise pen, like he wants to be with our domestics when they come to visit him through the bars.

He's been through a lot in his short life so far but I don't know if his nervousness is because of that or because he is a wild bunny.  

When he was at the petstore, I was told the reason he was finally brought to the rescuer's home (one I got him from) was because kids were sticking their fingers in at him and the noise, etc.)

I had been wondering too if he would even be able to be neutered at some point.  We have 2 female domestics right now that are going in today for pre-spaying checkups.  So......there's 2 intact females in the same large room that 'Skippy' (cottontail) is in.  Maybe that's also what's bothering him.

He hasn't been in the wild since that person found him under his deck over 4 months ago and I get very afraid of what would happen to him releasing him but whatever is best of course.  I don't know of any rehab place near me, we are in the country in Southern, Ontario Canada.

Thanks for any extra help!
Paula

Answer
Dear Paula,

If you think he's lost his fear of humans and other animals, then it might be safer for him to stay with you, as long as he's happy with the arrangement.  

His nervousness is probably a matter of his nature.  We've had many cotties pass through our doors, and they are all high strung and fast.  It's just the way they are.  They will tend to fight--even with domestics--upon sexual maturity.  So neutering might be necessary.  Let me warn you that I think it would be very wise for you to find a vet who will give you a dose of diazepam (Valium) to give him about an hour before you bring him for surgery.  Even though they might not show obvious signs of stress, cotties *do* produce a lot of stress hormones in a situation like that.  And this makes them poor candidates for surgery.

We've found that doping them up a bit beforehand (And I mean more than a bit; they can take 5mg/kg and still be running around!  At least it's true of our Florida cotties.) reduces the risk of post-operative disasters, and increases survival rate.  Just a thought for later.

I hope he continues to be happy and will learn to interact peacefully with your domestic buns.  Good luck!

Dana