found what I think were 4 bunny embryos next to next in my yard

Question
QUESTION: Dear Dana,

I'm so sad. Today I discovered a rabbit nest in my yard and scattered next to it were what appeared to be four bunny embryos. I don't know what else they would be, which is why I am asking you. They looked like (please forgive my graphic description) unformed blobs of mozzarella cheese with one red spot resembling an eye. They did not have formed ears or limbs. At first I thought they might have been stillborn or worse, killed by a neighborhood animal, but when I googled for pix of newborn bunnies all the pix showed bunnies with formed features (though hairless).

Is it possible for these to have been embryos? Or were they something else altogether different?

I am positive the nest was a bunny nest; we have had them before and I've even been fortunate enough to have one mommy bun nurse her nested kits in plain view of us.

Thank you for your help. I used to work for an exotic vet, had a lop for 8 years till she went to the Rainbow Bridge, and was a member of the HRS during that time.

Kind regards,
Robyn Federman

ANSWER: Dear Robyn,

Blobs of mozzarella cheese doesn't sound like rabbit embryos.  If you have a way to take a digital picture of the icky goo and send it to me at dana@miami.edu I might be able to guess what this is.

But it doesn't sound like embryos, unless they were in an advanced state of decomposition.

I'll wait to hear, if you can send a picture.

Dana

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

QUESTION: Dana, I unfortunately disposed of them -- my doggie was sniffing around them. They were whitish, solid, with a red spot on each, about 2.5 inches across, and there were four of them. They were literally blobs -- no appendages, or even the beginnings of appendages.

Robyn

Answer
Dear Robyn,

Well, I guess it will always remain a mystery.  But it doesn't sound like embryos.  Even a very early embryo should have recognizable head and limbs, and other features.

Hope you don't have to deal with that unpleasant problem again!

Dana