The local lagomorph rehabilitator at Colorado Wild Rabbit Foundation is planning to retire, leaving no one to care for bunnies from north Denver to the Wyoming border. In order for Greenwood to accommodate rising needs, we plan to build a new structure on our 2.84-acre property to accommodate the rabbits along the Front Range that need us! Greenwood has already raised the majority of the funds needed to build a new rabbit care facility, and we have started construction. Now we need your help. We need to complete it with things like shelving, cabinets, and appliances in order to care for an additional 500 more animals every year! We hope to finish the building by the time baby bunnies arrive in the spring of 2022.
Consider donating to help us care for the first group of rabbits staying in the Bunny Hotel.
What will the building look like?
Greenwood’s rabbit facility will be built to accommodate 60 rabbits at a time. To ensure the building is sturdy, quiet, and spacious, we plan to include concrete flooring, a metal roof, and beetle kill wood for the interior.
The rabbit structure needs to be separate from the main building because bunnies can be very nervous patients. Understandably, while we intend to be helpful and compassionate, we are still seen as potential predators in their eyes. When caring for these anxious creatures, rehabilitators have to be very quiet and minimize touching too much. The bunny should stay in a room or building away from other animals because the smell of a fox or coyote nearby can be terrifying for them. The consistent stress could harm the rabbit’s health in the long run.
To treat injured lagomorphs, professionals have a multitude of tools to best help. Things like pain medications, antibiotics, IV fluids, flea powder, and nutrient-rich diets can improve the animal’s condition. Orphaned rabbits require a bit more care, needing hand-feedings twice a day. The time it takes to feed 60 babies can add up! Luckily, Greenwood plans to hire additional staff to help get the job done.
Animal story: Cottontail Takes a Fall
A caring Longmont resident brought a wounded Eastern Cottontail to Greenwood after he discovered her in a window well. Our rehabilitation team hypothesized that a predator had chased her to the well where she then fell five to six feet. After evaluation, staff started to craft the rabbit’s recovery plan. Her wounds would be treated with antibiotics to avoid infection. She also had spinal trauma that required anti-inflammatories and cage rest. Aside from receiving high-quality medical care, the rabbit stayed warm and cozy in an indoor enclosure fitted with a wooden nesting box made by a local Boy Scout troop. She ate scads of Timothy hay, apple chunks, and lettuce. After this round of treatment, her injuries were healing and her hop had more pep. She spent a week in our outside caging, then was released back into the wild.
Why rehabilitate lagomorphs?
The building comes at a crucial time because the incredibly contagious hemorrhagic disease is shrinking rabbit populations across Colorado. So far, there is no cure. The rabbits that aren’t affected by this deadly disease deserve to get care. We shouldn’t take them for granted! Lagomorphs help us by keeping weeds at bay, fertilizing the soil, and satiating predators.
Greenwood is committed to helping save these bunnies that would otherwise have nowhere to go. Help us fill the new facility. Before Greenwood admits rabbits, we will need to equip the space for rehabilitation. Donate to our online fundraiser to help make this happen. Together, we can help provide life-saving care to more of our local rabbits!
