Vet Rescue 2025: What to Do with Orphaned Rabbits—Domestic & Wild Bunny Care 🐰🆘

It’s hard to resist a tiny bunny alone in the grass. But as Dr Duncan Houston, I want to help you understand why most “orphaned” rabbits don’t actually need rescue—and when they do, what the proper care steps are in 2025 🧠🐇.

🧺 Do Baby Rabbits Really Need Help?

In the vast majority of cases, the answer is no. Wild rabbit mothers feed their babies only twice a day—once in the early morning and once in the evening, for just 5 minutes each time. That’s normal behavior, not neglect 🚫🍼.

🐇 How Rabbits Keep Babies Warm:

• They don’t sit on the nest like birds
• They build a soft nest of fur and grass to retain warmth

So if you find a nest with healthy-looking babies—pink skin, plump bellies, minimal crying—leave them be. Mom is likely nearby 🏡🌱.

🔍 When Is Intervention Necessary?

Only in the following cases should you consider taking action:

• 🦊 You witnessed the mother rabbit die
• 🪰 The nest is destroyed and the babies are cold, thin, or crying constantly
• 🐰 A domestic rabbit refuses to feed her young

Wild rabbits should not be raised at home. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabber for best results. If you must provide temporary care, read on for guidelines 🧤📞.

🍼 Feeding Orphaned Rabbits—With Caution

Use only kitten milk replacer (KMR) or goat’s milk in an emergency. Do not use puppy formula, cream, or cow’s milk ❌🥛.

⚠️ Key Rules for Feeding:

• Feed twice a day only
• Do not overfeed—overfeeding is a leading cause of death
• Feed with the bunny upright, using a syringe or eyedropper

Feed very warm formula, not hot. Follow this rough guide (split into 2 feedings):

Amounts vary widely depending on breed and size. Cottontails need far less than domestic rabbits. Contact a rehabber or vet for help 📏🐾.

🔥 Warmth Guidelines

If room temp is 65–70°F, extra heat is not needed. If cooler:

• Use a low-heat pad under half the nest
• Never overheat—especially for wild rabbits with fur

🧻 Stimulating Elimination

Until their eyes open, baby rabbits need help to urinate and defecate—mimicking the mother’s tongue 👅.

Use a warm, moist cotton ball to gently stroke the anal area until the baby urinates or defecates. This helps keep the digestive and urinary systems healthy 💩💧.

🌿 Introducing Solids

Once eyes are open (~10 days for domestics):

• 🍃 Offer timothy hay, oat hay, and alfalfa
• 🥕 For wild rabbits: leafy greens (dandelion, parsley, carrot tops)
• 🐇 Domestic rabbits can be introduced to pellets at 2 weeks

💧 Water:

• Always provide a small dish of fresh water

🔁 Weaning and Release Timelines

• 🏠 Domestic rabbits: Wean at 6 weeks
• 🐇 Cottontails: Release at 4 weeks when eating hay and greens and about 5 inches in body length
• 🪵 Jackrabbits: Release at 9+ weeks

Wild rabbits should be placed in a naturalistic setting for minimal human contact. No cuddling, no petting—they are not pets 🚫💞.

🧬 Gut Health Tip: Cecotropes & Probiotics

If you have a healthy adult rabbit, collect cecotropes—the soft night feces—and mix 1/day into formula for 4–5 days to boost gut flora. If not available, add a pinch of acidophilus (a probiotic) instead 🧫🦠.

🛑 What NOT to Do

• ❌ Don’t feed wild rabbits as pets
• ❌ Don’t keep them once they can eat hay and greens
• ❌ Don’t let kids handle wild bunnies
• ❌ Don’t release too late—they lose wild instincts

📞 Find a Rehabber

Use search terms like “wild rabbit rehabber + [your city/state]” or contact:

• 🐾 Local humane society
• 🌲 State wildlife agency
• 🩺 Veterinarian

📲 Ask A Vet: Help with Bunny Emergencies

Not sure if a bunny needs help? Connect with a vet through AskAVet.com or the Ask A Vet app. We’ll help assess wild vs domestic, feeding needs, and whether you need to call a rehabber 📱🐇.

✅ Final Thoughts: Helping the Right Way

In 2025, with habitat disruption and climate change, encounters with young wildlife will continue to increase. But more intervention isn’t always better. Most baby bunnies don’t need rescuing. For the few that do, cautious, science-backed steps will give them the best shot at survival 💚🐰.

When in doubt—wait, watch, and call a rehabber first. The wild bunnies will thank you 🏞️❤️.