So my grandmother called me out to her backyard today when I got home from work. She had apparently been putting stakes down in the backyard and found a nest of baby rabbits. She knew they were there because she heard a squeak and when she dug down there were 5 babby rabbits. One of them had been nicked on the side with the stake.
She thought they were moles, so she put them in a box and was going to "set them free" in a nearby field. (No idea how that was going to be "setting them free", since their eyes aren't even open yet...)
Anyway, once she found out they were actually rabbits, she put them back in the hole she found them in.
My question is, will they survive now that they've been tampered with? My grandmother also put up a fence around them so that the dog doesn't devour them. Will the fence discourage the mother from coming back? Is there anything I can do to make sure they don't die?
Pic related, they look like that, so I'm assuming they are very young.
Keep them and have yourself some nice rabbit stew.
>>2132074
How is the rabbit going to get in with a fence in the way?
Leave them be and the mother should return at dusk/night.
Let nature do its thing.
>>2132132
I didn't put the fence up, my grandmother did. She wouldn't let me take it back down, she's really scared the dog will kill them.
>>2132133
Also, there is a hole in the fence where she can get in.
>>2132135
Look at this floppy little faggot
>>2132140
flop 4 lyfe
airplane ears <3
>>2132074
>she put them back in the hole she found them in
when the nest is disturbed and babies are tampered with like that, they are as good as dead. I recommend putting them out of their misery because they will only starve if left as-is.
>>2132156
That's an old wives tale to keep kids from messing around with them.
>>2132158
Don't be sad. You'll get some fresh meat out of it. :)
You can even skin a rabbit without using a knife. They're the banana of small game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCabTKhB620
>>2132161
>They're the banana of small game.
Kek'd
>>2132159
well silly me, observing it happening at least a dozen times sure had me fooled! glad you are here to set me straight :)
to op: do what you want, but don't be disappointed with the results
>>2132074
Put them back in the general area you found them and they should be fine. Our yard always has nests in it and we've had to move the babies a few times (mowing the lawn, etc) and we havent lost a baby to parental rejection.
>>2132145
Vrooom
>>2132159
Whether that old wives tale is true or not depends on the species of animal you are dealing with.
>>2132074
Check on them in 24 hours, if their mother hasn't returned by then she's not going to, thankfully rabbits are less prone to parental abandonment than other r-selected species like hamsters
If you are really worried call your local animal rehab to come pick them up. They will even try to treat the injured one
>>2132190
>Calling into question someone else's experience
>"But I totally researched it a while back guise!"
Never change 4chan. Never change.
>>2132159
Baby birds is one thing, and baby rabbits is another.
>>2132632
Fuck you faggot.
They are being fed at night and are clearly growing and getting fur.
http://www.wildlifehotline.com/welcome/mammals/rabbits/baby-bunnies/
>>2134260
Dumdum trolls tried to get you to kill baby rabbits. Rabbits are dumb and will just pull the nest back open and keep nursing the rablets, pic related.
>>2134796
I'm happy to report they're doing well :3
Pic related. We were very careful with it and needed to move this one to check on the others.
>>2132132
>let nature do its thing
You should definitely eat them then, op.
They're doing well
All healthy looking. Probably time to leave them alone now.
>>2133192
>Baby birds is one thing, and baby rabbits is another.
It's false for baby birds, too.
The source of the tale has to do with generally scaring the parents off. Not anything particular with handling the babies.
>>2136764
I don't know. But they are :3
I think there is actual science behind it though.
They're growing so fast
>>2136783
its easy to understand why we should find babies of our own species cute, but it doesnt make much sense to me why we find baby animals of other species cute
maybe the saying "so cute i can eat them up" has some sort of literal meaning in an instinctive sense? like it helps predators kill and eat cute prey
>>2138474
I'm guessing it's not just a trait in humans but one shared by at the very least most higher order mammals. So it's baked into us so innately that we recognize other species.
As far as that saying, no idea. If it's a saying in more than just English you might be onto something.
They are much more active now.
They'll probably be gone very soon
The cut one will probably die from stress. Take it out and find a wildlife rehabber. Put it in a cardboard box and turn a heating pad on low and put half of the box on the pad until you can get help. Or wrap a warm water bottle in a towel and put it next to the baby. As for the rest of the babies, cover the nest up with the dry grass and place a string or stick over the grass and check on it later. If it moved, the mother visited. She will not abandon them due to human scent. The mother will feed them during the evening so keep away from the area during that time.
If you lift the fence up slightly she will be able to get to the babies without the dog going for them.
>>2138474
We're programmed to find big eyes, big foreheads, big ears etc cute because that's what out babies look like. It transfers over to other animals with those traits
>>2139850
Ahhh so cute! Thanks for the updates anon.
Was mowing the lawn today, turned the mower around and saw a huge spray of rabbit chunks in the row I'd just done.
Made me think of this thread.
>>2139850
you did a gods' job, thanks anon. also for the pics and updates. heartwarming and cute
>>2140415
I'll try and get more pics tomorrow. I'm too far away so I've been relying on my gf to check up on them. She's working all day today so hopefully tomorrow she can check up on them.
I have a feeling they'll be leaving soon. She says they're more active now. It's amazing how fast they grow.
Well, I'm sorry to report there will be no new pics. The bunnies have left :(
good luck bun buns :3
>>2140425
GF here. The bunnies have indeed left the nest today. All 5 of them survived, even the cut one. Once the fur grew, I couldn't even tell which bunny had been cut anymore. It was fun watching them grow, they even had personalities. There was a little scrappy one that was kind of skinny and would bounce all over the place upon my approach. And then there was a fat lazy one that would always chill in the back and wouldn't bat an eye at my presence. I'll miss them, but I'm relieved that they all made it this far. Hopefully they won't get hit by a car or eaten by something bigger. I suspect they've moved under the shed maybe? That's where I've seen the mother come from when she comes out to feed them.
False alarm, they're back!
>>2140455
Hi <3
I thought once they left that was it.
Also, all five are back.
>>2140690
Nah, you're in their territory, they'll hang around until they're either old enough to go establish their own territory or they'll just be around for the rest of their lives. You'll probably have bunny bros for a long time to come given that they're getting pretty used to contact. I ended up having a lot of contact with a few baby buns growing up because my dog kept trying to adopt and raise them, they were always pretty chill around my family as a result. Never really tame, just more chill than a wild animal should be. Dog always looked so forlorn when we would plunk them back in their nest. Momma bun never rejected a single one or moved the nest though.
I don't mind them around at all. I do worry that they'll get used to humans too much, and a local redneck will eat them. But I have done my best not to touch them, as much as I really want to pet them. They've given me something to look forward to every day after work though. I was so sad when they were gone earlier. I guess I'll leave the shoebox fort up for them? They live under there now I guess
>>2140698
It will be interesting to see what happens.
>>2140703
The one in this picture is my favorite. Don't tell it's siblings tho.
>>2132163
lies.
>>2140687
YAY!
>>2140687
I have also rabbits in my backgarden.
Sometimes they're annoying when they eat my plants and makes holes in the grass, but when I see them in the evening on my lawn, I like it too because it has something arcadian about it.
>be me
>be edgy 13 years old, spending my afternoons on /an/
>see thread about animal
yo I totally kill this particular animal everytime I see them ahahhh why you acting so shocked it's nothing ahah these animals don't matter I kill them all the time! kill kill kill kill!!!
>>2138474
living beings feel two fundamental things: self-love and empathy (or call it pity). we recognize ourselves in other beings, that's why we feel hurt when seeing others get hurt.
humans are not predators to baby rabbits at all. (as far as instincts go). We like brightly colored fruits and the smell of cooked stuff. we also like campfires.
>>2141333
All animals know what a "baby" is. Humans recognize when a thing is a baby. empathy likes vulnerable things
>>2141330
Pretty much. I think they missed clicking on /b/ and wound up here.
>>2141290
I have more pics :3
>>2141327
I don't know why but I like watching rabbits just chillin and doing their thing.
>>2142007
>007
I got a bond get
So cute!
Is it bad for a 31 year old guy to love bunnies? I blame my sister when she got a pet rabbit years ago
Ok, I think that's it for now.
Next time there is a chance to check up on them I'll post more pics.
>>2142012
They're rabbits, they're cute. I'm a rough looking construction worker who is secure enough in my manhood to say that baby rabbits are adorable and shit.
>>2142020
Thanks for you hard work, looking forward to the next update.
>>2142012
This is 4chan.
There are much anons on this board who have extremely more strange things they love.
You're quite normal.
>>2132161
Wow I want to eat rabbit now, it looks so tender
>>2138474
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ugi4x8kZJzk
if you're grandmother was a real country woman she would've encouraged the dog to exterminate the vermin
Or slaughtered the pests herself
>>2142372
Well, luckily my grandmother isn't a real country woman then. :)
>>2142371
Wow
>>2142021
Are you man enough to let another rough lookin man fuck your ass?
>>2142641
>man enough
No anon, that would be gay, and being gay is for fags.
>>2142653
Real men can grit their teeth and take anything.
Why can't you?
>>2142656
Real men don't take dick in the ass, nor would they imply that it's not gay. I'm afraid you are confused.
>>2142662
Ignore the troll anon
>>2142662
Hey man, if you can't take a joke, you should be able to at least take a dick.
>>2142685
Well if you're not gay then you have nothing to worry about. Nobody's trying to convert you. Just show you a good time, big fella'.
>>2139899
Seriously though, why are we not slaughtering every male under 25? A generation of absolute and total sociopaths. Fucking repulsive degenerates.
>>2132135
>yiffmebabyonemoretime
>>2142990
Because then you'd be left with the most inept, whiny, and useless population in the world.
>>2143012
Holy shit, I didn't notice that.
Fucking furries, there's something mentally wrong with them.
>>2142990
>males
>not lying manipulative millenial females
>not lying manipulative baby-boomers, male or female
>not just poisoning the grain fields and slaughtering the entire beef industry and poisoning water treatment centers across the globe to wipe out the worst pest in Earth's history
>>2143180
>this
>22 an make 70 grand a year working circles around old entitled fucks who had their job and world handed to them at 18.
Lmao all you baby boomers/35+ were grandfathered in to your life. Highschool diploma? Heres 100k a year, full time and benefits, go ahead, run the u.s. economy in to the ground.
>>2132074
>She thought they were moles
How the fuck does a rabbit get mistaken by a mole, OP??????
Grandma is blind or is she so old she's already suffering from dementia?
The rabbits are probably a few hours old at most... they open the eyes and start running and growing very fast in the first few days.
If mother smells the scent of your grandma's hands on the babies she might kill and eat them.
If it doesn't happen, then put some branches covering all around and over the nest so they can feel very well hidden and to protect them from rain, cold and predators.
Mother will follow their sound.
Seriously, you'd give them a better chance by caring for them with milk and rabbit pellets and releasing them after a month.
But wait... I read some more and they've survived.
Well done.
If you only have one male in the group you could put up a hideout and they'll set camp on your heavenly tasty grass filled backyard by their own free will for life.
Up to you now.
>>2143337
>Lmao all you baby boomers/35+ were grandfathered in to your life. Highschool diploma? Heres 100k a year, full time and benefits, go ahead, run the u.s. economy in to the ground
And they wonder why we're so pissed.
>>2143371
I'm 26, only have a high school diploma, and I make $100k+ a year.
>>2142012
I am a 25 year old male and I think smaller animals are neat. I have a rabbit myself from a previous relationship with my ex and I love the little fury. She's very different from a dog, which I know should be obvious but it was kind of a shock in a way.
She's a pretty good rabbit, and I enjoy watching the rabbits outside when they're around during spring.
>>2143334
The only reason you're mad at females is the same reason all millennial males are: they won't fuck you. Men are absolute cancer.
>>2143180
>Implying we're not already
What are you even talking about? Millennial males are already inept and useless. We'd be better off without them.
>>2143374
Computer programming?
>>2143414
Nope.
I'm not going to make as much this year, but eh, my company has good benefits.
>>2143415
Nice man.
>>2142990
You sound pretty psycho yourself, but since you're a woman you have the excuse of being retarded
UPDATE: The bunnies have been gone for a few days now, so I guess they are gone for good now. I'll miss them :(
Why didn't you pet one when you had the chance anon... also they are probably still around. I have a bunch of these wild rabbits in my yard because I live in the middle of the woods, but I have never gotten to pet one.
Happy b day!
>>2144577
That was yesterday, you fgt. :^)
>>2144576
I work in transportation in the US. No, I'm not a truck driver.
>>2144361
I did. Very soft, though towards the end it pissed them off if I touched them.
>>2144580
Medical transport?
>>2144582
Nah, our deliveries are much larger than that.
>>2144600
I dunno, some of my patients are fucking massive
>>2144600
>>2144968
kek
