How do you care for a wild runt orphaned bunny?

Answer 1

Feed it and bathe it.

AnswerOk, so that's just simply not enough. If you find a litter of wild bunnies the first thing you do is leave them alone! Just because the mother is absent does not mean that the kits have been abandoned. If you are unsure that the nest has been abandoned place some grass or straw across the opening of the nest (but do not cover or completely block it) and check it in 24 hours. If there is no obvious movement of the obstruction then the nest may be abandoned. Only once you are 100% sure the nest is abandoned should you attempt to "rescue" the kits. Then take them inside, wipe them gently with a towel dipped in luke-warm water. Do NOT submerge in water at all, as the shock can kill them. Until arrangements can be made, the best thing to do is keep the babies warm and safe. Get some rabbit formula and feed them through an eye dropper or baby bottle. Make sure to cut a slightly larger hole in the nipple of the bottle. Then call your local vet or Rabbit Rescue. The simple fact is, you are not qualified to raise a wild rabbit, no matter how informed you might be or how fun you think it might be to raise a baby bunny. Also, in some states it is illegal for anyone without a license to raise wild animals--even small and cute ones like rabbits. It is better and safer from the bunnies. They have a very low chance of survival without proper care from a trained vet.

If you only find one kit somewhere the response is essentially the same. First make 100% sure it has been abandoned. Then take it inside, clean it gently with a towl dipped in luke-warm water. Do NOT use soap, shampoo, or submerge in the water etc. Until arrangements can be made, the best thing to do is keep the baby warm and safe. Get some rabbit formula and feed it through an eye dropper or baby bottle. Make sure to cut a slightly larger hole in the nipple of the bottle. Then call your local vet or Rabbit Rescue. The simple fact is, you are not qualified to raise a wild rabbit, no matter how informed you might be or how fun you think it might be to raise a baby bunny. Also, in some states it is illegal for anyone without a license to raise wild animals--even small and cute ones like rabbits.

However, I have to add to this answer that I myself have raised 2 orphaned rabbits (in England) - we used cows milk and a bottle I bought which was made for orphaned cat kittens. I put fresh grass in their box each day until they began to eat it themselves. They sort of weaned themselves and drank less and less milk and more and more greens until purely on grass and other greens. At first I fed them every hour or so (yes, even through the night as they were very very young when we got them - due to a ferret killing their mother), but as time went on they could go for longer intervals. Good luck.