Temporary Care For Baby Rabbits - Toronto Wildlife Centre

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First contact a wildlife rehabilitator . While you are waiting to hear back, the following instructions will keep the baby rabbit safe and comfortable.

What to do while you wait

A dark, quiet place

Keep the baby rabbit in a dark, quiet place indoors, in an enclosed or covered container. For most species, a cardboard box covered with a lid or towel is perfect. If your home is small, a closet or a bathroom is an excellent spot. A basement, heated garage, or spare bedroom will also work.

Keep children, pets, and people away from the room the rabbit is in. Remember that they are frightened, and we want to keep their stress down as much as possible. Unlike our pets, wild animals are not comforted by people talking to them, petting them, or looking at them.

A heat source

Once you’ve determined a baby rabbit is orphaned, getting them a heat source is one of the most important things you can do. Babies may have been without their mother for days. Keeping them warm will reduce stress on their system, once their body doesn’t have to fight to keep its temperature up. Some examples of an appropriate heat source:

• a clean sock filled with dry, uncooked rice, and microwaved for one minute
• a plastic bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid from the recycling bin filled with hot tap water and wrapped in a tea towel or face cloth (secured to the box so that it does not squish the baby)
• an electric heating pad set to “LOW” and placed under half of the box
• chemical hand warmers (e.g. Hot Paws) that stay warm for up to 8 hours

Re-heat water bottles and rice socks as necessary. Once they have something warm to snuggle up to, most orphaned baby rabbit will go right to sleep.

No food or water

This is a tough one, because our first instinct is often to try to give food or water to an animal we’ve found. Until you’ve spoke to a wildlife rehabilitator, there are some really good reasons not to give the baby rabbit food or water.

Why shouldn’t I feed it?

• If the rabbit is dehydrated, starving, or suffering from trauma, their body may not be strong enough to digest food. Trying to feed them can cause bloating, shock, or death.
• Trying to force-feed food or water can accidentally end up with the liquid in the animal’s lungs. This can cause pneumonia, and death.
• If you feed the wrong food to the wrong species, it can cause serious digestive problems.
• Once you get the baby rabbit to a wildlife rehabilitator, they will need to assess their condition and maybe run some medical tests. These are a lot easier to do if the animal hasn’t been eating. It’s just like when your doctor or veterinarian asks you or your pet not to eat the night before an appointment.

Once you’ve spoken to a wildlife rehabilitator, if they ask you to give the baby rabbit some food please follow their advice.

Why shouldn’t I give it water?

• If the rabbit is injured and having trouble standing, or if they panic trying to get out, they could fall into the water dish. This can cause hypothermia, or even drowning.
• Trying to force-feed water can accidentally end up with the liquid in the animal’s lungs. This can cause pneumonia, and death.
• Once you get the baby rabbit to a wildlife rehabilitator, they will need to assess their condition and maybe run some medical tests. These are a lot easier to do if the animal hasn’t been drinking. It’s just like when your doctor or veterinarian asks you or your pet not to eat or drink the night before an appointment.

Once you’ve spoken to a wildlife rehabilitator, if they ask you to give the baby rabbit some water please follow their advice.

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