wild baby rabbit care

Question
my daughter found a wild rabbit in a mud puddle while she was in the park with friends.  it looks just like the wild rabbits in our backyard although it could not belong to them as the places are miles apart.  it is only about 4 inches in length and I have not seen it open its eyes yet.  do baby rabbits nurse?  my daughter has been getting the little one to lick water from a hamster bottle but not much. I think I should take it to the vet because its so small.  do you think they will keep him?  I want him to survive, what should we do?

Answer
I would advise contacting your local wildlife services and let them know you found a wild baby rabbit with its eyes still closed. If it is 4 inches long, though, they eyes are probably quite close to opening. Anyway, they can get it to someone who has more experience raising baby rabbits. Babies do nurse once or twice a day off their mother's.

If they cannot or will not take the baby, the following formula and instructions can help:

1/2 Cup evaperated milk
1/2 Cup water
1 egg yolk
1 Tablespoon Corn syrup

FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS

Kits should be fed every 6 hours for the first 2 weeks, then every eight hours the third week, and every 12 hours on the fourth week. After that the kits should be eating a good amount of solid food, and they should be drinking water. If they seem to be doing well on pelleted food, discontinue the formula. Otherwise, feed once a day until they are six weeks old, or until they to well on solid food. Feed a good quality grass hay starting at four weeks, and do not feed any moist foods such as fruits or veggies.

The kits should be fed in an upright position using an eye dropper or a syringe (no needle) to prevent them from choking on the formula. It will take a few days for the kits and for your self to get used to the process, but since kits cannot go even a day without food, no matter how difficult it is for you, they must get fed. Slow down the feeding if the kit starts sneezing, coughing, or choking.

After the kits are fed, rub each kit's belly after it is fed to stimulate them to urinate. Using a cotton ball that is damp with warm water works best.

Offer pelleted food to kits when they are two weeks old, as they will start nibbling on it. Offer grass hay at 3 weeks (or simply provide it as part of the nest so they can choose when to start chewing on it).

However, I will warn you that raising baby rabbits is VERY difficult. The mortality rate for orphaned babies that are fed by humans is very high. Thankfully it sounds like the baby you found is a little older, so it should have a better chance.