Blah!

Well, I really have nothing else to say about cottontail rabbits, but, good luck trying to rehabilitate them.  One thing I’ve noticed is how grammar can really save someone’s life.  For example “let’s go eat grandma” or “let’s go eat, grandma.”  Sure I make mistakes every now and again, but, I came across that on Facebook and thought it sure was funny.

                Another thing I watched a few months back, that I can’t just get a grip on is how kangaroos give birth.  I mean at first they look like little worms!  Then they have so squirm their way up their mother’s pouch it’s really quit gross actually.  Then, the mom’s pouches stretch so huge for the joey.  If you haven’t seen a kangaroo give birth you really need to see this video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lCKc8tURtc   I promise a life change!  I don’t know if all marsupials give birth this way or not; if anyone knows tell me! 

                Then next topic I’d like to discuss is I would really like to volunteer in another country.  I wish my parents could support me.  I mean I know it’s a lot to ask but it’d be fun.  I mean even if they don’t support me on that I just wish my dad could support me on something, ya know?  Now I’m just venting, hehe.  Oh well Watch that Kangaroo video please everyone!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lCKc8tURtc

GOOD LUCK WITH THE COTTONTAILS!!!!

Facts on Cottontail Rabbits

Although there are many types of cottontail rabbits, the Easter Cottontail is the most common.  Cottontails are named for their “cotton ball” tail.  Usually, the rabbits live in meadows, farms and other habitats, however, they can adapt to areas where humans live.  Many people get rabbits confused with rodents, however they are not rodents.  Rabbits belong in a group of animals called lagomorphs.  They mostly eat at night in order to remain hidden from predators.  Their diet consists of things found in your garden, such as, peas, and lettuce.  In winter their diet changes, through then they eat bark and twigs.  Although prey animals and a popular game species, cottontails are somewhat smart animals, they also have a keen sight and hearing.  If spotted they run from their predator in a zig-zag pattern.   Cottontails are also fast they can move at speeds up to 18 mph.

                Cottontails are active all year round.  Their home ranges for about three acres for females and eight acres for males.  Female rabbits reproduce three to four times a year and have a litter of around four or five kittens, however, only around 15% of their offspring survive.  Rabbits are sexually mature at around only three to four months old. They make nests by scratching an shallow hole into the ground.   Adults are usually solitary, except when caring for young.  This is a great video on how the mother nurses her young in the wild: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LhdR37W33w   

Sources: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/cottontail-rabbit/

                http://www.pleasebekind.com/rabbit.html

                

My Experience With Cottontails

I found my three rabbits through my dog.  She peed on them and almost ate them!  Luckily, none of the bunnies got hurt.  At first, all the bunnies wanted to do was sleep and they were great cuddlers; as they got older, however, they became much more active.  Since it was a safe environment, I was able to let the rabbits roam free in my bathroom, beware: if you do this, they do poop a lot, and as they age are fast they can be hard to recapture.  Make sure there is no small places the bunnies can get stuck in if you let them roam, or any unsafe small objects for they may want to eat them.  The rabbits were difficult to take care of, but ‘bottle’ feeding was always fun.  Releasing my rabbits was very hard because I had grown very attached to them.  I had contemplated keeping them, but, they are wild, they belong to be free.  I learned a lot from my experience with the cottontails.  First off, wild things belong in the wild.  Secondly, being a ‘parent’ is a lot of hard work, but can be very rewarding.   The first time I tried to let one of the cottontails go, it was too young.  I found it later that day hiding in a bush I picked it up and brought it back in with its siblings.  The second time, when they were a little older, I released them all together, this was a success.  I often wonder how my baby cottontails are and if they are still alive.  Since the release of my rabbits, I have successfully rehabilitated an orphaned bird, which in my opinion was even more work due to the fact its feedings needed to be done more frequently.  Rehabilitating wild life can be very rewarding.

As They Age

As the bunnies get older you will notice they will start to eat their feces.  This is normal.  Bunnies produce two types of feces, one that is waste and another that is vitamins and other nutrients they need to digest twice.  This is the same with other animals such as tortoises. 

                They will need to be moved into a bigger cage for freer roam.  Slowly wean them off human touch, this is way it reproduces the natural fear they bunnies have for humans.  Rabbits should be released around five weeks of age.  You will be able to tell the rabbit is ready because it will be more alert.  It may become aggressive towards you or its cage mates, and it will be completely weaned off the formula and on an all-solid food diet.  Try to find a farm that does not hunt wild rabbits to release them in.  Remember, hand-reared rabbits will be at a big disadvantage compared to their wild raised rabbit friends.  This is due to the fact they will be more spooked towards prey and humans.  Remember not all bunnies are meant to survive; otherwise the world would be overrun with rabbits.  Only a few of the orphaned rabbits will live.  Cottontail rabbits do NOT make good pets.  They are wild animals and belong as such.   The following link provides a good video on how to feed your baby rabbit, as well as information on nurturing and feeding the rabbit in the description on the video. (Just click show more info).  Baby Rabbit Feeding (Too CUTE!)

Just the basics

                The first thing you need to know is if the orphaned bunny is well hydrated.  Gently pinch the skin, if it stays in a “tent” it is severely dehydrated.  When you begin to feed your bunny you will need to know how old they are so you know how much formula to feed them.  The young cottontails will need to be fed with either goat milk, or kitten formula.  A great website to find how much formula to feed your bunny is:http://www.2ndchance.info/bunnies.htm .  The best way to feed the bunny is with a syringe.  Hold the baby rabbit firmly and tilt it’s head up gently, this will prevent the bunny from asphyxiation.  Remember do not overfeed the rabbit.  It can be potentially deadly.  When very young the baby rabbits must be stimulated to go to the bathroom.  To do this you can use a moistened q-tip to gently wipe their genital area.  As the rabbits get older, you can begin to offer them solid foods.  For example, my rabbit’s favorite food was clovers. When the bunnies are old enough to eat solid food and are roaming their cage you can add a small dish of water.  Make sure it is not too deep.  The bunnies need to be kept warm, if they are found cool, place them on a heating bad on low heat.  Babies without fur should be kept in an incubator with a heating lamp.  Another thing to remember while handling the baby rabbits is that they do jump.  Be careful while they are off the floor, for any sort of a drop could damage their necks or other fragile bones.

Raising Baby Cottontail Rabbits

                                                                                    

First off, you need to make sure the baby rabbits are actually abandoned.  Keep in mind, rabbits leave their nests at a young age, when they are only about 5 inches or so they go out to explore their surroundings.  If you stumble upon a baby rabbit without a mother, the mother often leaves the nest throughout the day and only visits to nurse them at night or when predators are not near by.  If the babies are cold, dehydrated or look week the mother may not be doing her job and the bunnies could quite possibly be abandoned.  Many people assume that if the bunnies have been touched the mothers will pick up on scents and leave the rabbits alone, however this is not the case.  As well as with most other wild animals, they will most likely continue to care for their babies even if they had been touched by humans.  If for example, your dog or lawn mower ruined the house of the baby rabbits and the nesting area is significantly changed the rabbit may no longer care for her young.  This is what happened in my case, my dog peed on the rabbit’s nest.  The bunnies scattered and their home was destroyed.  I  was unable to place the baby rabbits back into their nesting home.

If you find a baby cottontail bunny and it is not abandoned it is best to leave them alone.  This is due to the fact that they are very hard to care for and easily become fatally overstressed this is because they are natural prey animals.  Another reason to leave them in there natural habitat is because in some states it is illegal to wild animals as pets.  It is best to find a rehabilitation in which they properly know how to take care of these animals, however if you are going to raise them yourself there are many things you need to know.  

Cottontail bunnies video