Rabbits, Bunnies and Squirrels

Have You Found a Wild Cottontail, Jackrabbit or Squirrel?

There are two types of wild rabbits in the Phoenix area: Jackrabbits (which are actually hares) and Cottontails. Jackrabbits are born with their eyes open, fully furred, and able to run. Cottontails are born naked, blind, and helpless.
Contrary to popular belief, touching a baby bunny will not make the parents reject it. Stress usually drives the mother off when curious people poke around the nest site too often. If you find a nest of baby cottontails, don't kidnap them because you don't see the mother around. The mother only comes to the nest twice a day to feed the babies (early morning* and dusk) Put two crossed strings over the nest to see if it is disturbed. If the strings remain intact, then the babies should be rescued.
 

Tips to follow:

Keep all injured and orphaned bunnies and squirrels warm on a heating pad in a secure, covered box with a towel lining the bottom. Set the container on a heating pad.
Do NOT handle the animal any more than necessary and don't let children handle it. Don't keep peeking in the box as stress alone can cause the animal to overstress and die. Put the box in a dark, quiet place away from pets, noise, and family traffic.
Don't force food or water down a bunny or squirrel's throat especially if he is cold or dehydrated. It's easy to aspirate an animal if fluid gets into his lungs. The wrong food which can cause bloating, illness, and death. Never use sugar or Karo syrup which can cause bacterial growth. A rehabber will provide the animal with specialized foods and fluids based on the animal species and needs.

Never feed a baby animal cow's milk. If you absolutely must feed go to a pet store and get KMR (Kitten Replacement Milk) and a nursing kit. Use bottled water to mix unless you have an R/O system. Put a drop at a time on his lips until he begins to suck on the bottle.

Call a bunny rehabber and bring the animal over to them. Bunnies (and squirrels) are cute and hard to give up...but the animal's life depends on the correct diet and housing. All wildlife deserves the right to return to the wild as a healthy, productive animal.