Desert Cottontail 14 Days Old [Rehabilitation]

This little one appeared on my doorstep injured at approximately 5 days old. Eyes were closed, fur was fairly dark and a sibling nearby was dead. Normally it is best to leave babies alone, or re-nest. I could not locate a nest and we live at 6,600 feet elevation and a storm was blowing in, so under the guidance of two professional rehabilitators, I nursed this little cottontail. It is extremely difficult and the survival rate with a surrogate human is very low. These are very delicate creatures that require special formulation and typically do not survive without the mother's milk that changes during nursing to develop the digestive culture within the young. This video is made 8 days after finding him/her and I estimate the age to be 13 days old. It had just lightly snowed outside, so I let him/her exercise inside. I hope that it thrives and survives the next 2 weeks until I transition it back to its natural habitat. This bunny was on a special hand fed diet under the guidance of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. The hay was just there for him/her to smell, not to eat. The bunny was fed 10% of its body weight in cc's the following mixture: 50% Zoologic® Milk Matrix 33/40 and 50% Zoologic Milk Matrix 30/52 and it was weighed 2 x per day. Milk Matrix 33/40 www.petag.com/... Milk Matrix 30/52 www.zoovat.com/... weight chart: onedrive.live....

[@hazell5457]

Can't believe this bunny is real. She/he looks like a wind up doll. Too cute!

[@greghawkins549]

When I found the bunny, he/she was smaller than a mouse and was on my concrete patio. During rehabilitation, the bunny would sleep on my belly nested in a cashmere hoody and gently experience the rhythm of my breath and heartbeat. The experience was as healing for me as it was for her/him. 💜

[@hazell5457]

@@greghawkins549 Bunnies are so precious and I understand how they bring the magical feeling of healing. I have an Eastern Cottontail that lives in the courtyard of my apartment and all the tenants love her. She had babies last summer and unfortunately, some were killed by coyotes. Since then, she comes around on a daily for hay, carrots (I don't feed her too many baby carrots!) and leafy greens that I set under a tree. She knows me by now and we're pals. When I place her food out, she walks towards me and wiggles her nose as if she is talking to me. Rabbits are wonderful creatures. I love your rehab story in your description.

[@jsmith71251]

I found one too, no bigger than a mouse. Still alive, is there any way I can contact you for some tips.

[@Robin-xt7yo]

🤗😍 Bunnies are the cutest little beings in the world. 🤗😍

[@amberchase7959]

Yes they are

[@Earthling0719]

In the universe! 😃👍😍💕

[@ZDDW]

Say that to farmers

[@michaelschmidt5702]

ABSOLUTE !!! They are soo overcute! I have four dwarf Bunnies and one is an rescued wild Bunny. She is so kind, so tame and so playfull. I can´t live without animals! Animals are much much better than half of the damn mankind!

[@jamesrun4eva474]

My best friend minilop (Legend his name) just died & I came here for for daily dose.. I taught him tricks for 12years & he licked my face for life. Look after bunnies & they look after you x

[@daisyviluck7932]

His ears...so cute 🙂

[@phaedrabacker2004]

Awwwsome bunny 🐰

[@ParanoidCarrot]

why are baby bunnies so coshdarn cute !!!

[@sousasaraiva9977]

Too beautiful

[@briancallahan6894]

He or she. Is so adorable!

[@greghawkins549]

Brian Callahan yes you’re absolutely right.

[@ShadowStray_]

bbbbbbbb bunny so cute 🐰

[@mehmeddervisevic2923]

CUTE, CUTE, CUUUTTEEEEE!😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘

[@greghawkins549]

a very precious experience...the bunny would take naps on my heart

[@bunninsula5849]

Holy cuteness

[@yuhwryu1234]

this little man is my personal friend

[@S-O-T]

We used to have one as a pet that slept with my dog, She caught him as a tiny baby 🤣

[@Purplus_Guyus]

🐰🤗

[@sousasaraiva9977]

God is great. The nature is perfect

[@Dave-oh2sv]

What a cute bunny

[@sousasaraiva9977]

Too wonderful

[@iamtenzin4409]

How was the outcome on the patient, doc?

[@greghawkins549]

IamTenzin transitioned to yard then transitioned to the 10,000 acres of our back yard. Saw him/her a few times then didn’t see again. So not sure if he/she lived much longer or was eaten by a predator .

[@JdeVrijer]

@@greghawkins549 thank you for at least giving him a fair chance!

[@АлисаСнежная-х8ю]

Ах малюточка....маму ищет)₽

[@DavidGetling]

If they become tame, as some do, then they will live a much longer and happier life if you keep them.

[@adriasorensen2249]

Little guy! Are you cute?

[@DARI646]

😘😘😘😘

[@zasuweber1743]

Is so so so so so so so so so so so cute😭😭😭

[@suneethagundluru1416]

Even we have same one now its grown up started eating grass now we bought it from fields now its 1.1/2month to my rabbit

[@gouvyrock]

the most vicious creature on hearth lol 😅🤣😍🥰😇

[@victortoronto4354]

Desert the bunny is very cute he’s so fluffy I’m a weeks old

[@sousasaraiva9977]

Oi love animals

[@killarvarunchannal8389]

Super ✌️

[@janetle3988]

Nawww 🐰❤️

[@marcomadao]

❤️❤️❤️

[@mwinchester9716]

😍😍😍😍

[@rosat1804]

🙈🤗😍💎

[@suneethagundluru1416]

You should feed milk at this age it will not eat grass in this age

[@greghawkins549]

You are correct. It was bottle fed. Grass was just there for it to smell and explore.

[@greghawkins549]

Correct - This bunny was on a special hand fed diet under the guidance of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. The hay was just there for him/her to smell, not to eat. The bunny was fed 10% of its body weight in cc's the following mixture: 50% Zoologic® Milk Matrix 33/40 and 50% Zoologic Milk Matrix 30/52 and it was weighed 2 x per day. Milk Matrix 33/40 www.petag.com/products/zoologic-milk-matrix-33-40 Milk Matrix 30/52 www.zoovat.com/en/animal-milk-matrix-3052.html weight chart: onedrive.live.com/?cid=5BF7983603B32E40&id=5BF7983603B32E40%21271&parId=5BF7983603B32E40%21270&o=OneUp

[@pujapatra8075]

Can I give cow milk?

[@dubistverrueckt]

no, a Russian rehabilitator says cows milk harms them. Goats milk works, she says.

[@greghawkins549]

This bunny was on a special hand fed diet under the guidance of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. The hay was just there for him/her to smell, not to eat. The bunny was fed 10% of its body weight in cc's the following mixture: 50% Zoologic® Milk Matrix 33/40 and 50% Zoologic Milk Matrix 30/52 and it was weighed 2 x per day. Milk Matrix 33/40 www.petag.com/products/zoologic-milk-matrix-33-40 Milk Matrix 30/52 www.zoovat.com/en/animal-milk-matrix-3052.html weight chart: onedrive.live.com/?cid=5BF7983603B32E40&id=5BF7983603B32E40%21271&parId=5BF7983603B32E40%21270&o=OneUp

[@scorbunnycute1110]

if i were you i would not let any predator kill this precious 😣 i would help them too poor bunnies

[@S-O-T]

I would have kept him as a pet😀

[@scorbunnycute1110]

@@S-O-T i would love pet them too since i have four rabbit at home still if that rabbit near me i would taken he/her to my house

[@小兔子-e1k]

6年了兔子有年紀了牠是野兔幸運兔

[@greghawkins549]

是的，幸運的兔子

[@t__g__gamer5943]

Sff

[@theresarose5406]

It might still need to be bottlefed at that age.

[@greghawkins549]

Yes, he/she was still bottle fed at this age.

[@greghawkins549]

Yes - This bunny was on a special hand fed diet under the guidance of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. The hay was just there for him/her to smell, not to eat. The bunny was fed 10% of its body weight in cc's the following mixture: 50% Zoologic® Milk Matrix 33/40 and 50% Zoologic Milk Matrix 30/52 and it was weighed 2 x per day. Milk Matrix 33/40 www.petag.com/products/zoologic-milk-matrix-33-40 Milk Matrix 30/52 www.zoovat.com/en/animal-milk-matrix-3052.html weight chart: onedrive.live.com/?cid=5BF7983603B32E40&id=5BF7983603B32E40%21271&parId=5BF7983603B32E40%21270&o=OneUp

[@ablue5419]

Hi is so hungry start to eating the carpet he needs some fresh Timothy hay also some fruits and carrots in small pieces please read about babies bunnies diet.

[@greghawkins549]

This bunny was on a special hand fed diet under the guidance of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. The hay was just there for him/her to smell, not to eat. The bunny was fed 10% of its body weight in cc's the following mixture: 50% Zoologic® Milk Matrix 33/40 and 50% Zoologic Milk Matrix 30/52 and it was weighed 2 x per day. Milk Matrix 33/40 www.petag.com/products/zoologic-milk-matrix-33-40 Milk Matrix 30/52 www.zoovat.com/en/animal-milk-matrix-3052.html weight chart: onedrive.live.com/?cid=5BF7983603B32E40&id=5BF7983603B32E40%21271&parId=5BF7983603B32E40%21270&o=OneUp