wound on nose

Question
Hi,
My husband recently brought home an injured baby wild bunny with a wound on its nose. There is a patch where the fur is missing and it seems to have scabbed over. I'm wondering if it it best to just leave it to heal on its own, or if I should put anything on it to aid in healing (vaseline or antibiotic ointment?) Also not sure if that is something that needs to be looked at by a vet. Thanks!

Answer
Dear Heather,

If the baby has its eyes open, then it is probably best to return it to exactly where you found it.  If there's a scab on his nose, then the wound is healing, and I would not mess with it beyond perhaps applying a bit of dilute povidone iodine to the scab and its edges with a clean cotton applicator.

I can't see the wound to know how serious it is, but many vets will not treat wildlife, and if you think this one cannot be returned to his nest site, then the best option would be to get him to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who has access to legal veterinary care for wildlife, and can make sure the baby heals and is safely released.  You can find your local rehabber here:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm

I hope this helps!

Dana