Sorry that this is so long. I just want to give all the details. We have a wild rabbit that keeps digging holes in the front yard and having babies in the exact same spot. I fill in the hole when the babies leave. It is in an wide open area next to the the side walk not a safe area. The last litter of babies were born last week. It has been raining here since early morning. I noticed this afternoon that the hole had flooded. There were lying in 3 separate places on the top of the grass in the open. I covered them with grass to hide them and put an umbrella up to protect them from the rain. I called the wildlife place it was before 4 pm but it went to voice mail. I called an emergency hot line and was told that I did the right thing. That I should try and get the water out of the hole and put them back and wait to see if the mom comes. I scooped the water out but the ground is so saturated even thought the umbrella was covering the hole the water pours back. I left them out of the hole. I watched them and for the mom. She never came. It is still raining. It is 67 degrees not really cold but the babies bodies were cold and the grass is puddling and they were lying in standing water. I put them in a box lined with hay. They are on a heat pad on low in the bathroom. 2 of them do not look good. Lying on their back/side. I called the hot line back which turns out is 6 hours from here. She gave me the # of a vet specializing in cotton tails closer to me. This women was of no help. She acted like I had the wrong # and finally said she was a vet but only specialized in hawks. Later admitted she use to specialize in rabbits but no more and it was like pulling teeth to get her to tell me anything except don't feed them formula. She finally gave me a number to call in the morning and said if I can get them there in the morning that place will help. They are closed now. The bunnies are in the bathroom in a box lined with hay on the heat pad. The one that looked like it was dying on it's back has snuggled up in a ball in the hay. The 3 of them has nestled into the hay and look a lot better. Before they were very cold feeling and 2 were on their back/side with their feet up and twitching. Does anyone have any advice? Is there something else that I can or should do for them?
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Wild baby bunnies were drowning in the rain
- Thread starter bunnytoes
- Start date
Poor bunnies. 
I have no helpful advice but just wanted to say well done for tryign to help them and what a shame you have had no help from the second person - ok, so she doesn't specialise any more but she must remember things surely. I'm keeping everything crossed that they make it through the night and you can get them to the closer place safely. x
I have no helpful advice but just wanted to say well done for tryign to help them and what a shame you have had no help from the second person - ok, so she doesn't specialise any more but she must remember things surely. I'm keeping everything crossed that they make it through the night and you can get them to the closer place safely. x
It sounds like you've done the right thing. Warming them up has probably saved their lives. Are you in the States? If so you have baby cottontails rather than european rabbits like us so I'm not 100% sure what the procedure is.
It would provide fresh grass in case they have started eating solids and use a small syringe (no needle) or dropper to feed them a little water. Slowly so it doesn't go into their lungs.
That should tide them over until you can get them to the expert tomorrow. Dehydration would be a concern faster than starving is and it would be better not to feed one thing and then the rehabber feed something else.
Make sure they won't get too warm under the heatpad now they've warmed up to normal. Putting the box half on/half off so they have room to crawl to a cool area if they want is a good idea.
It would provide fresh grass in case they have started eating solids and use a small syringe (no needle) or dropper to feed them a little water. Slowly so it doesn't go into their lungs.
That should tide them over until you can get them to the expert tomorrow. Dehydration would be a concern faster than starving is and it would be better not to feed one thing and then the rehabber feed something else.
Make sure they won't get too warm under the heatpad now they've warmed up to normal. Putting the box half on/half off so they have room to crawl to a cool area if they want is a good idea.
They are cotton tails and I am in the states. I am concerned about them getting too warm. I do have the box half on the pad and half off. The bigger one that looks pretty good is off the pad. The other 2 smaller ones look to be doing a little better but have not moved at all. That is why I brought them in. They were pretty motionless lying in the water and still not moving except to curl up but are stretched out again. They feel warm. Should I turn the pad off? It is not cold in here. I am afraid to handle them to give them water. Can they drink if I hold a syringe of water to their mouth and dribble it?
Yes, now their temp is up turning the pad off is fine, it will be warmer in your house than outside. I don't know much about Cottontails but I would guess at that age they pretty much just eat and sleep. Put something over the box though as they might get jumpy when they wake up.
Yep just drop the water where their front teeth are/will be. You might need the other hand behind to stop them backing away initially as they won't recognise a syringe as a water source.
Yep just drop the water where their front teeth are/will be. You might need the other hand behind to stop them backing away initially as they won't recognise a syringe as a water source.
Tinsel
Wise Old Thumper
I'd just start a new thread in Rabbit Chat with the updated info/background..:wave:
