Baby Bunny Update … After the Musing.
OK, if you haven’t caught up, catch up now. Read THIS post.
Then come back.
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I came home, fed the babies again.
Was speaking back and forth with my mom who is a HUGE animal advocate and thankfully, a huge network of people.
She found someone close who was ready and willing and able to give MY (yes, I totally bonded) babies the attention and love they deserve.
I wavered.
I had bonded.
They had made it through the night!
THEY TOOK THEIR FIRST STEPS WITH ME!!
They really did. When I found them, they were flopping like fish. This morning’s feeding had them using their legs, walking up me … I had to swaddle to nurse them.
I have finally downloaded the videos I took during my short, short time as a bunny foster mom.
The first video … When I was still trying to find Bunny Mom.
And I did.
I played Alice and searched and searched for that rabbit hole.
As I said in my first post, once darkness fell, and rain was imminent … They HAD to come inside.
Life or death situation. (I’ll speak about that later.)
They survived the night! I nursed and they lived!
I fed them. I bonded. And then … My mom, who is very active in animal advocate circles, found someone close who could do better than I could.
Give them more than I could.
So, my last videos:
One of the bunnies with hiccups:
ANNNNND … My goodbye. 😦
SO! My babies are gone.
The adoptive mom was lovely. As were her children.
They already have a bunny. She’s a dog groomer – and as I said before, a huge animal advocate. I slipped her my email address.
“Please tell me good or bad how they’re doing.”
I had the bunnies tucked under my cardigan, it was pouring rain. I had their little bag ready.
And I cried, and I cried, and I cried.
Still crying.
I feel like Alice had something to do with my ‘meeting’ of these beautiful creatures.
I went down her rabbit hole. A healing. Being of service. Loving something smaller and vulnerable.
And it happened with my mom.
‘Alice’ knew one of my favorite books (other than Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) was Watership Down.
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Sensible informative part of my emotional post:
If you see a baby w/out it’s mom … Wait!
Rabbits will abandon (temporarily) their young to redirect a predator.
The babies may not BE abandoned!
There is a LOT of work involved in raising wild rabbits – they NEED the environment for immunities and such. So, it’s not ideal to try to raise one without doing MUCH research.
Rabbits are one of the few that DON’T abandon their young if you’ve ‘touched them’. If you give one shelter for the night, and feel it’s safe to return, RETURN IT!
My situation was dictated by a storm, a very dangerous spot that I found them in and the fact that we have many predators … Otherwise, I would have left them alone.
Ok, maybe I would have watched to be sure mom came to get them, but, I would not have taken them inside if there was no other way.
I assure you.
Two babies live today – and wouldn’t have if I hadn’t taken them in.
Of that, I’m certain.
And thanks ‘Alice’ – you know who you are – even though you’re not reading this. I think you put those babies in my path.
Posted on April 10, 2016, in Love, Motherhood, Musings from the laundromat, My Favorites, Pets, Photography & Art, Uncategorized and tagged animal rescue, animals, Baby wildlife, Bunny, Love, nursing, Pets, Watership down. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
You absolutely did the right thing! I volunteer for a wildlife rescue, and you did everything right, including giving them to someone with experience. If you hadn’t gotten involved they wouldn’t have made it. If you’d kept them they most likely wouldn’t have either. Bunnies are HARD to rehab, even for those with experience.
It’s never easy to give them up, but I assure you, you DID THE RIGHT THING. You gave them the best chance at survival. Kudos!! And thank you for having their best interest at heart and not your own.
Thank you, it was very hard to say goodbye. X