QuestionSorry if this is not your expertise, there is no one else available due to vacations. I found an orphaned baby rabbit in my house after my dog brought the rabbit inside. There was no physical harm inflicted upon the rabbit that i see and it was moving around quite well. Its eyes are still shut and i now have it in a warm cage with some old clothes comforting it. Later in the day i found the nest of baby rabbits outside. Should i try to keep the rabbit and take care of it, or bring it back to the nest and leave it be? Also i am afraid that my dog will get to the nest, should i just let nature take its course or try to change something. I guess i could always simply chain up my dog.
AnswerDear Nolan,
The baby's best chance for survival is to be returned to the nest, so I'd do that ASAP. You can get some fresh grass and gently rub the baby with it to remove as much of your scent and the dog's as possible, then with gloves or a paper towel, transfer baby back into the nest and leave it as undisturbed as possible.
Keep the dog away from the nest whatever way you can. Now that he knows it's there, he'll go back. Letting him do that is not "letting Nature take its course" since your dog is an introduced species and the rabbits are native wildlife. What you're doing is protecting your natural ecosystem, and that's a good thing (even if it means inconveniencing your dog for a week or so).
So keep pupper inside and take him for walks on a leash until the babies are out of the nest (which should be in 10-14 days), at which point they will be able to run away.
If you need more information on caring for wild babies, please see:
www.bio.miami.edu/hare/wildbabies.pdf
I hope this helps.
Dana