Step 2: How to safely capture and transport an injured baby bunny

Rabbits make their nests in shallow depressions in the grass. The nest is lined with fur and loosely covered with grass. Rabbits have evolved to have a stomach capacity larger than other mammals and are able to hold a great deal of milk. As a result, the mothers only visit the nest twice a day (early morning and dusk) to feed the babies, thus reducing the chances of attracting predators to the nest. Baby rabbits are often found when people disturb the nests while mowing the grass. If this happens to you, do the following:

1. Make sure that the babies are not injured.
2. Place the babies back into the nest and cover it loosely with grass.
3. To be sure that the mother has come back to the nest, place several strands of string or yarn over the nest. If the string has not been moved by morning, then the mother has probably not returned and you should call a Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 303.823.8455.
   

If you find healthy bunnies that are at least five inches long, able to hop, with eyes open and ears up, they do not need help. They are able to survive on their own and should be left alone.
Baby rabbits should be picked up only as a last resort, such as when you know that the parents are dead or injured. Young rabbits are difficult to rehabilitate and more often than not, do not survive the stress of being handled.

To transport the animal place the rabbit in an animal transport carrier lined with soft
t-shirts or towels. Place the animal on the floor of the car and drive slowly and safely to Greenwood. While you are driving you should be aware of sudden turns and stopping. These harsh motions can be dangerous for injured and orphaned animals. Cover the carrier with a blanket or towel. Be sure to keep noise at a minimum, which means no radio and very little talking. Small children are often very excited to save and transport a rescued animal but it important that they know that the animals need silence.

Continue to: Step 3

Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3