Mike moved a big garden of plants from the front yard to our back yard yesterday. When he was looking over the transplanted plants today, he noticed some fluff and leaves moving around; he uncovered a nest of five baby animals. He thought they were mice initially, but when he showed them to me, I think they are too large for mice or moles. I think they are baby rabbits or if not rabbits, then baby squirrels. They are about 2.5 to 3 inches long. It looks like rabbit fur was used to insulate the nest, so that’s why I am assuming they are baby rabbits. Plus, we have rabbits all over our neighborhood, so it makes sense.
I don’t know if the mama will be able to find them, now that they were unintentionally moved, but I hope so. They look healthy and don’t appear to be in distress. We covered them up and moved more green plants around them to block the wind. I found a tip on a wildlife web site, to place dental floss or string in a cross over the covered nest, and if the cross moves or is broken, then you know the mom came back.
Moms come back to feed only 2 - 3 times daily, usually in darkness before sunrise and after sunset. We will see how the nest looks tomorrow, and if they last through the night. Poor little things.
http://www.animalconnectiontx.org/wildrabbits.htm
Update on baby bunnies: I think mama found them. Yay!
The nest definitely was repositioned. The vertical string I left was removed completely (at least from sight) and the horizontal string was left in relatively the same place. I left it with more viney plants loosely on top. The plants were all packed down, covering them better with a much thicker nest top.
I used a stick to carefully lift up the nesting to see if they were still there, and I saw two or three sleeping soundly and at least one was breathing. I didn’t want to disturb them for too long, so I left them.
UPDATE #2: After closely monitoring the baby bunnies for a few days, I found them “still” this morning. I had a bad feeling last night that they weren’t going to make it; looking back now, I don’t think the mama had found them. When we first found the nest, they were wiggly and strong. I think perhaps the baby bunnies were the ones that repositioned the nest, and because they were without proper food, they slowly became weaker and weaker. It’s sad, and I am very disappointed, but I have to remember it’s just how nature works. Thanks to everyone for reading this!
Update on baby bunnies: I think mama found them. Yay!
The nest definitely was repositioned. The vertical string I left was removed completely (at least from sight) and the horizontal string was left in relatively the same place. I left it with more viney plants loosely on top. The plants were all packed down, covering them better with a much thicker nest top.
I used a stick to carefully lift up the nesting to see if they were still there, and I saw two or three sleeping soundly and at least one was breathing. I didn’t want to disturb them for too long, so I left them.
Posted by That's Camping Admin on 05/11/09
UPDATE #2: After closely monitoring the baby bunnies for a few days, I found them “still” this morning. I had a bad feeling last night that they weren’t going to make it; looking back now, I don’t think the mama had found them. When we first found the nest, they were wiggly and strong. I think perhaps the baby bunnies were the ones that repositioned the nest, and because they were without proper food, they slowly became weaker and weaker. It’s sad, and I am very disappointed, but I have to remember it’s just how nature works. Thanks to everyone for reading this!
Posted by That's Camping Admin on 05/13/09
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