my dog may have killed bunnies mom

Question
Please help me, a few nights ago we came home to find a dead rabbit in our fenced in yard-our dog was outside that evening.today we were on our way out and saw our dog attack what we saw was a baby bunny,my husband found 5 other babies in a nest in our garden.I called a wild life specialist and she said to keep the bunnies in the nest,eyes are open,white line on top of head,my ? how long can bunnies live w/out their mommy?the rabbit was killed 9 days ago.I'm very concerned that she was their mom.

Answer
Dear Angela,

Without their mother, the babies will starve in only a couple of days.  So if they are still alive and growing nine days later, then the rabbit that was killed was not the mother.

If you need help raising them, and are *sure* they are orphaned, please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/wildbabies.pdf

and

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html

I hope this helps, and that the babies will be fine.  Good luck!

Dana