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Tips for raising and keeping a newborn wild rabbit alive
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You’re on a walk when you stumble across a wild rabbit’s nest. You lean in for a closer look to see tiny baby bunnies squirming around. Their mother’s nowhere to be seen—what should you do? Well, in times like these, it’s best to leave the bunnies alone since their mother will most likely return. However, if you know a bunny has been orphaned for over 24 hours or is injured, it’s time to take action. Call a local animal clinic or wildlife rehabilitator, and then follow our guide to learn how you can care for a baby wild rabbit.
If you're looking to take care of a baby bunny (that isn't wild) check out our comprehensive guide here .
Things You Should Know
- Make a temporary shelter and safe space for an orphaned bunny out of a wooden or plastic box and hay.
- Feed a baby rabbit formula for the first 6 weeks of their life before introducing them to grass, vegetables, and fruits.
- Release a rabbit back into the wild when they’re 6 to 8 weeks old, as long as they're strong, healthy, and self-sufficient.
Steps
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Make a nest out of a wooden or plastic box for baby bunnies. If you’ve encountered a wounded or orphaned bunny, give them a warm and safe place to stay. Line a box with pesticide-free soil and a layer of dried hay. Create a ring or nest-like shape in the center of the box for the bunny to curl up in. [1] X Research source- If you don’t have soil or hay on hand, some soft towels, tissues, or thread-free blankets will do.
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Put the box on top of a heating pad or near a heat lamp. Newborn baby rabbits need to stay in a 100 °F (38 °C) environment for the first 2 weeks of their life. [2] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source So, to keep them nice and toasty, put their nest on top of a temperature-controlled heating pad or under a heat lamp . Attach a thermometer to the box to ensure it stays near the preferred temperature.- Keep an area of the nest away from the heating pad or lamp. This way, the bunnies can crawl toward a cooler space if they get too hot. [3] X Research source
- As the bunny grows, lower the environment’s temperature by 3 to 5 degrees each day until it reaches room temperature.
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Place the newborn bunnies gently inside the nest. Handle the small rabbits with care while wearing gloves (this is to protect you and them from germs). Lay the bunnies one by one into the nest you’ve made them.- If you’ve only rescued one bunny, make sure they’re surrounded by plenty of tissues, hay, or blankets to keep warm.
- Handle the bunnies as little as possible, so they can acclimate to their new space and stay calm.
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Cover the box with a screen to keep the bunnies safe. If the bunnies can walk, a screen protects them from jumping out of the box. If you have other pets, the screen acts as a barrier to curious dogs or cats. Use a window screen, chicken wire, or a plastic lid with small breathing holes. -
Add stimulating toys and items to the box if the rabbit is fully grown. Unlike newborn bunnies, rabbits are curious and energetic. Dropping in a few things they can chew can help occupy their time. Toss in an empty toilet paper roll, extra hay, or a few chunks of carrots.- If you have rabbits as pets already, consider offering the wild rabbit a new toy or treat your rabbits haven’t yet touched.
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Feed baby rabbits goat milk formula for up to 6 weeks. Mother rabbits feed their babies at dusk and dawn for about 5 minutes. Depending on the bunny’s age and size, you may have to feed them more or less. Fill a 2.5 cc syringe with lukewarm formula and proceed to feed the bunny . [4] X Research source- Mix the formula to be 3 parts formula and 4 parts distilled water to replicate the thickness of the mother’s milk.
- Formula isn’t as nutrient-rich as a mother rabbit’s milk, but it’s a good alternative for orphaned rabbits. Contact a veterinarian if you’re concerned about a bunny not getting enough nutrients.
- Kitten Milk Replacer is a great alternative to goat milk formula.
- Never use cow’s milk or human milk replacers to feed a baby rabbit, as this could upset or damage their digestion. [5] X Research source
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Wrap the bunny in a cloth and hold them upright. Gently fold the bunny in a washcloth or blanket and place them in your palm. Make sure their tiny head is peeking out of the cloth. [6] X Research source- Feed the bunny in the same place each time, as they’ll begin associating the location with food.
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Put the filled syringe up to their mouth. Learning to feed from a dropper or syringe takes practice, so be patient with your little friend—they’ll get the hang of it! Just keep the syringe at their lips until they open their mouth. [7] X Research source- Try squeezing out a tiny amount of formula to place on their mouth so they know food is near.
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Squeeze the formula into their mouth slowly. Gently wiggle the syringe under their upper lip and into their mouth. Give the newborn bunny the formula one drop at a time. If they spit out the formula, you may be feeding them too fast. [8] X Research source- Watch to make sure the bunny swallows in between each drop.
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Rub the bunny’s bottom to stimulate its bowels. In the wild, a mother rabbit licks a bunny to help them go to the bathroom. You can replicate this behavior by gently stroking the bunny’s bottom with a cotton swab or damp paper towel after each feeding. [9] X Research source -
Stick to a feeding schedule to avoid overfeeding a baby rabbit. Bloat and diarrhea are common symptoms of overfeeding and can result in rabbit death. How much and often you feed a wild rabbit depends on their age. Here’s a guide to help: [10] X Research source- Newborn to 1 week (closed eyes and 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) long) : 2 to 2.5 cc/mL
- 1 to 2 weeks (eyes open and starting to stand) : 5 to 7 cc/mL
- 2 to 3 weeks (starting to look fluffy and 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) long) : 7 to 13 cc/mL
- 3 to 6 weeks (eyes and ears alert and can walk) : 13 to 15 cc/mL
- At 3 weeks old, baby bunnies can be introduced to grasses, fruits, and vegetables.
- A baby bunny’s belly should be small and round after feeding, and it’s usually time for another feeding when the belly is no longer round.
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Offer grown rabbits a mixture of vegetables and fruit. Once the wild rabbit is weaned off formula, they can start eating whole foods . Diversifying their diet gives them more nutrients and helps them get ready for their life back in the wild. Offer the rabbit some of these rabbit-friendly foods and see what they enjoy: [11] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to source- Spinach
- Mustard greens
- Parsley
- Carrots
- Squash
- Potatoes
- Bananas
- Berries
- Apples
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Provide plenty of grass and hay for the rabbit to nibble on. Green foods are a wild rabbit’s best friend! Finding leafy lettuce in the wild can be hard, so most wild rabbits spend their time chewing on grasses. Head into your backyard and look for plants such as: [12] X Research source- Timothy grass
- Orchard grass
- Meadow fescue
- Marigold flowers
- Clover
- Fireweed
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Give a rabbit a dish full of clean water. Always make sure the wild rabbit has enough fresh water. Simply fill a shallow dish with clean water and keep an eye on it throughout the day, refilling it whenever it gets dirty or empty. [13] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to source- On average, rabbits drink about 2 to 3 times more water than the food they eat per day. [14] X Research source
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Wean the rabbit off of formula. A rabbit must be able to eat and find food on their own before you release them back into the wild. Typically, rabbits can be introduced to their natural habitat as early as 3 weeks old, as long as they are eating full meals of whole foods (grass, vegetables, fruit, etc.). [15] X Research source- If the rabbit is still drinking formula, try introducing more whole foods, as long as they’re 3 weeks old or older.
- Bring in more grass from outside for the rabbit to eat—just make sure the area you pulled it from is free of pesticides.
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Stop handling the rabbit. Help the rabbit prepare for their return to the wild by touching them as little as possible. This way, they can get used to grooming and feeding themselves again and become less dependent on you. -
Move the rabbit outside full-time. If you’ve raised an orphaned bunny indoors, bring their enclosure outside once they’re 6 weeks old. They’re now fully grown, able to eat whole foods, and hop around. Give them a wired hutch with a place to graze so they can acclimate to their future environment.- Build your own rabbit hutch or purchase one premade at a local pet or farm supply store.
- Continue to give the rabbit plenty of food, water, and other toys.
- Consider moving the rabbit to a larger hutch as they grow or expand the outdoor grazing area.
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Release the rabbit into the wild when they’re 6 to 8 weeks old. A rabbit is fully grown and ready to take on its natural habitat at this stage. Search for a location with plenty of grass, hiding places, and a water source. Opt to release the rabbit in the late afternoon near some undergrowth. This way, they’ll have plenty of time to find a new home before dusk. [16] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I tell if the baby is dehydrated?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.The rabbit will be quiet, withdrawn, and hunched. Assess its hydration status by gently lifting the skin over the rabbit's shoulders and then letting it go. In a well-hydrated rabbit the skin springs immediately back into position. In a dehydrated animal it takes a second or two. Anything other than it springing back straight away could be a sign of dehydration.
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QuestionWho do you call if you find a baby rabbit?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.Call your local wildlife rehabilitator or veterinary clinic. However, most apparently 'abandoned' wild rabbits are not abandoned at all and it's best to leave them be and wait for the mother to return. Female rabbits only feed their young twice a day (at dawn and dusk) and will leave the babies unattended at other times. Take care that she isn't put off returning to the nest because you are present!
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Tips
- Make a tic-tac-toe pattern over the nest with yarn if you find a nest of bunnies and don’t know when the mother was last seen. Check back in 24 hours to see if the pattern is disturbed. If it is, leave it be; if it isn’t, contact a wildlife rehabilitator. [17] X Research sourceThanks
- Always contact a local animal clinic or wildlife conservation office if you take in an orphaned bunny or wounded rabbit. They’ll be able to guide you through the proper care and offer additional help.Thanks
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Warnings
- Wild rabbits can carry diseases that can be harmful to you and domestic animals, so always wash your hands after handling a wild bunny or grown rabbit.Thanks
- Make sure a bunny or rabbit needs to be taken care of before you intervene. If you find an injured rabbit all alone, it may benefit from your help. If you find a nest of bunnies, leave them alone, as mother rabbits often leave their young for long periods of time. [18] X Research sourceThanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about rabbits, check out our in-depth interview with Jamie Freyer, DVM .
References
- ↑ https://mohrs.org/orphaned-cottontail-care/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3801561/
- ↑ https://mohrs.org/orphaned-cottontail-care/
- ↑ https://web.as.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html
- ↑ https://citywildlife.org/found-animal/baby-rabbit/
- ↑ https://hare.as.miami.edu/wildbabies.pdf
- ↑ https://www.giveshelter.org/assets/documents/Eastern_Cottontail_Reuniting_Instructions.pdf
- ↑ https://rspca-brighton.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Rabbits-and-hares.pdf
- ↑ https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/objects/guidedreading/guidedread003.pdf
- ↑ https://www.wildrescuetexas.org/wildrabbit.html
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/rabbit-care
- ↑ https://web.as.miami.edu/hare/diet.html
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/rabbit-care
- ↑ ​​ https://www.canr.msu.edu/manistee/uploads/files/4H1509_4-H_RabbitTracks_Water.pdf
- ↑ https://www.indianahrs.org/rabbit-care/wild-rabbits.aspx
- ↑ https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/pest-control/vertebrate-pest-animals/wild-rabbits
- ↑ https://hare.as.miami.edu/wildbabies.pdf
- ↑ https://www.giveshelter.org/assets/documents/Eastern_Cottontail_Reuniting_Instructions.pdf
About This Article
Article Summary
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To care for a wild baby rabbit, line a wooden or plastic box with pesticide-free soil and dried hay, then scoop out a circular nest in the hay and nestle the bunny into it. Remember to handle the baby as little as possible, since excessive handling can cause distress and even death. If the rabbit's eyes are still closed, feed it a mixture of kitten milk replacer and goat milk. Otherwise, feed it fresh greens, hay, and water! For tips on preparing the formula mixture, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "My mischievous cat brought home a baby rabbit. We live in the middle of 20 acres, so lots of wooded area for wild animals. Its eyes are open, so hopefully it's not too young. Thank you for all the straightforward info; it will help until we can release the bunny." ..." more
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"My mischievous cat brought home a baby rabbit. We live in the middle of 20 acres, so lots of wooded area for wild animals. Its eyes are open, so hopefully it's not too young. Thank you for all the straightforward info; it will help until we can release the bunny."
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"I'm so grateful for the straightforward info here! It's not overly wordy, thank God; it's direct and to the point. Thank you for including pictures and breaking it down into sections that are chronological. I feel much more confident in the care of my rabbit."
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"Wow, I didn't know that rabbits can't/don't eat carrots. Got a little cottontail my cat brought home. Amazingly, no injuries. Been feeling as in the article, so as per the local wildlife place, will release as soon as big enough. Thanks for the information."
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"When a neighborhood cat killed 5 baby bunnies, we rescued the last one still in the nest. We have been feeding him KMR and after two days, his eyes opened. We were looking for information about weaning him off the formula and this article was helpful."
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"My daughter's dog found a nest. The article helped us determine the age of the bunnies (just under a week) and what rabbits like to eat. She tended to the babies' injuries and placed them back into the nest, then made the nest site safe as she could. "
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