Bruce
Herd Master
That might depend on how much meat is on a cottontail compared to the rabbits Dave raises for food. The ones around here don't look real hefty.
Pastor Dave's Highlights
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Pastor Dave
Herd Master
Back in the 80's when my uncle helped get us started in rabbits, he mentioned once that if we ever had the reason or opportunity to raise/foster a wild rabbit, i.e. Cottontail, if it cooperated to breed, regardless of gender, the offspring would be huge. So, yah I gotta try to raise it to breed.
It won't have its freedom it would have had in the wild, but it won't be eaten. And of course if it hadn't been picked up and "saved", it would have died by now. There's probably DNR laws prohibiting keeping it, but if it had went to a DNR aprroved rehab or recovery sanctuary, they probably would have used an artificial formula in a bottle for it to drink. I provided rabbit milk. Haha
It's doing great so far. And we are handling it. I am not sure I can let it wean and then re-enter the wild. I don't know if it would preservation skills or know how to associate with wild rabbits.
We have one rabbit that has been promised to live out its whole life already, and this will be the second one.
It won't have its freedom it would have had in the wild, but it won't be eaten. And of course if it hadn't been picked up and "saved", it would have died by now. There's probably DNR laws prohibiting keeping it, but if it had went to a DNR aprroved rehab or recovery sanctuary, they probably would have used an artificial formula in a bottle for it to drink. I provided rabbit milk. Haha
It's doing great so far. And we are handling it. I am not sure I can let it wean and then re-enter the wild. I don't know if it would preservation skills or know how to associate with wild rabbits.
We have one rabbit that has been promised to live out its whole life already, and this will be the second one.
Bruce
Herd Master
I was very surprised to see that wild rabbits seem to be "wean them and kick them to the curb". 2 years ago we had a new bunny about every 3 weeks. When we first saw each of them they would have easily fit in the palm of my hand yet they were unattended. Cottontails all over the place by end of summer. But I NEVER saw a baby with an adult.
So MAYBE you could release it and it could take care of itself but I'm sure it's life would be much shorter. Last year we had ZERO rabbits and we own no animals that would kill a rabbit.
So MAYBE you could release it and it could take care of itself but I'm sure it's life would be much shorter. Last year we had ZERO rabbits and we own no animals that would kill a rabbit.
CntryBoy777
Herd Master
The thing that I'd do is to utilize it and not document it....there is an old saying...loose lips sinks ships, so name it and only refer to it as needed, but it would not be pictured or openly discussed....
I have to say, what's posted here is public knowledge. Now, if the fish and game folks, DNR, or whomever, have nothing better to do than harass a person for saving an animals life and giving it a good life, they need to be replaced with folks who concern themselves with REAL issues. Or they are over staffed. That rabbit would most likely be dead by now. And since it's not going to be released back into the wild, there's no issue with overpopulation either.
Mike CHS
Herd Master
I found the DNR folks to be pretty compassionate when I was trying to find out the legalities about Cheep Cheep the turkey. They literally told me to let it go in the wild where it will die or try to raise it and hopefully it will revert to the wild.
It's good that some show a little common sense about things...
Wehner Homestead
Herd Master
They were quick to tell me that it was illegal to raise those baby squirrels without a permit. I didn’t even get out that I just wanted them to live then turn them loose. I had no intention of taming them or making them pets!
Mike CHS
Herd Master
In that case I would have ignored them and did what was best for the animals.
Wehner Homestead
Herd Master
Fortunately, their mother took them back. I really didn’t want to raise them anyway so I was prepared to take them to a recognized rehab facility in Columbus. I refused to just let them die!
On a side note, when I was talking to the lady at the rehab, she asked me not to feed them anything. I told her I wouldn’t and said I had goat milk if she thought they needed a few drops of something. She said they’d be fine but that that wouldn’t have been harmful. She then told me that she’s gone to saying not to feed them anything because someone tried to feed a baby squirrel a tuna sandwich!
On a side note, when I was talking to the lady at the rehab, she asked me not to feed them anything. I told her I wouldn’t and said I had goat milk if she thought they needed a few drops of something. She said they’d be fine but that that wouldn’t have been harmful. She then told me that she’s gone to saying not to feed them anything because someone tried to feed a baby squirrel a tuna sandwich!
