It’s been a while, please read!

[KittenMuffinPie]

So, it’s been well over a year since I’ve posted anything. Jude is good other than the fact that she (yeah..she) is a girl. She turns two in a month and is developing a dewlap. I was told when I got Jude that he was a male, and even took him to the humane society to get neutered and no one told me any differently. (Of course it is the humane society and they could have just forgot to mention that they figured out he is a she) but anyway. I’ve come to the conclusion that Jude is a female. And now her tendencies to be super tidy and love to groom me and just her diva attitude makes since. Next topic. An old work friend of mine’s husband found a baby rabbit. Kept it for a few days and didn’t tell his wife and then gave it to her as a gift. She freaked out and said “You have to put it back so it’s mother can care for it!” but he didn’t even remember where he picked it up in the woods and they couldn’t just drop it off outside and leave it to die so they kept it. Their plan was to raise it on kitten formula and not touching it much other than to feed it and then release it into the wild but they’ve waited too long. Hettie, which is what they have named her, is definitely a cottontail rabbit and not a released domesticated rabbit kit. She is about a month old now and is being weaned off of kitten formula and is eating hay and some pellets already. The lady has asked me if I will take her and keep her as a pet because she has become way too accustom to being fed and is very dependent on them. I don’t like the situation but I cannot allow this baby rabbit to be released because we all know what happens most of the time when domesticated rabbits are released. (Lets just say it aint pretty.) I’ve decided that I am going to take her in a few weeks. I’m ordering a separator for my rabbits cage that will make the 2 level bunny abode condo into 2 separate cages. I am planning to eventually get a add on level that will just be hers. Links below. But please..anyone familiar with raising cottontails as pets? I know that it isn’t ideal and that she belongs in the wild but there she will most certainly die. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

foster insert: http://leithpetwerks.com/prodpage.cfm?prod_code=FI100
add on level eventually for Hettie: http://leithpetwerks.com/prodpage.cfm?prod_code=BA002

[LBJ10]

Leopold has a little “dewlap”, but that’s because he’s pudgy. LOL If it’s most certainly a dewlap, then I suppose that would be a clue to Jude’s true identity. You said you took him/her to be neutered, correct? Was there an incision? Boys and girls have different incisions. Neutering just requires two small ones on the “sacks”, while a spay requires a much larger one on the abdomen.

As for the wild cottontail, I would first make sure it is OK for you to have one. In some states it is against the law unless you’re a licensed rehabber. If you can legally keep the bunny, then it is possible for them to adjust to life indoors. They are very different from domestic bunnies though. Cottontail has a lot of experience with this. I don’t know if she will see this, but you might want to message her directly.

[tobyluv]

You should contact a local wildlife rehabber and tell them about the situation. Since the people that had the cottontail didn’t have much contact with it other than feeding it, that is the same thing that a rehabber would have done if they had been taking care of an orphaned or injured baby rabbit. They would then have released it at around the same age this cottontail is now. The rehabbers can let you know what is the best thing to do is this case, and they should know of a good release place. You can find a state by state list here, http://wildliferehabber.org/, or your local humane society or a local vet should also have that info. The sooner you can speak with them, the better for the rabbit.

 

[LBJ10]

That’s very true tobyluv. It would be a good idea for KMP to find out exactly how “imprinted” this wild bun is on people by discussing it with a local rehabber. This would help with making the best decision possible for the little guy.

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