Wild Babies Too Tame???

In reference to my thread reference the wild babies and the worries about them being tame - please see these videos for your verdict.

I know this is not what you need to hear, but...


Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

They are so cute and they obviously adore you



Now I'll try to be less gooey and more helpful.

I'd be really reluctant to consider releasing them, when all they known since birth is domesticity.

Are they already showing signs of being digging, climbing, acrobatic escape artists or is it something you fear from having had wildies before?

omg,that first video they adore you

i agree with sparky,i dont think you will be able to release them back in to the wild

Yup it is a non release situation I am sure. They are already showing signs, they even stand on each others shoulders to chew higher up the bars.

Thing is I don't think they even had one feed from mum

Oh my god they're so precious

I would probably be reluctant to release them. They look very humanised.
Also, they really look like they're considering jumping out of the hutch when you open the door!

they clearly see you as there mom

iam going to have to look at that first video a few hundred more times

I second the awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, is there no bunny santuary near you that could take them that are more adapted for their needs.

They are so ca-ute!!!!!!!

Tbh, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to release them. But I've never experienced what it's like trying to keep a wild rabbit in captivity

What are your options if you can't release them? Can you try to rehome them or would you have to keep them yourself?

I still feel sick at the thought of what happened to their poor mum You've done an amazing thing for them.

Oh they try Dotdot! But my Giant's head is bigger than one of them, so I don't let them! She might see them as an entre!

fall3n-ang3l wrote:they clearly see you as there mom

iam going to have to look at that first video a few hundred more times

I have put the videos in the wrong order. But they definitely see me as momma. There is nowhere that is set up for wildies anywhere it seems. I think they would be easier to keep than my other wildie Easter who was about 6 weeks when she came into care and has never been tame. However I don't want them to get unhandle-able at any stage like she is. I think their upbringing has made them completely imprinted on humans.

they do seem very tame! I don't know anything about releasing rabbits back to the wild so am a bit clueless but, where would they go in the wild? Would they be welcome in a wild warren?
I think Chris Packham said on Springwatch that sometimes when wild rabbit mums are not allowed to have their kits in the warren (if they are not dominant?) then they will sometimes have them somewhere else, and keep going back each day to look after/feed them - as they were dug up at the allotment then this might be the case?

hmm what a difficult problem. If they are kept in captivity then you're right - they will need to be handleable for checks/vacs and the dreaded nail clipping sessions.

So, I am inclined to agree with the others but I think they will need much more space than pet rabbits - I heard somewhere that wild rabbits roam an area of about 30 football pitches each day!

Good luck in your descision!

I think they've been far to humanised to even contemplate letting them go now.
When I handreared a wildy I hardly had any contact apart from feeding and cleaning out cage, this is what I was advised and it worked s/he was still very wild when it came to releasing her/him.

I don't envy your situation. I feel they would need a huge avairy type enclosure that had a mesh bottom dug a few feet into the ground so they could dig and runaround and be as free as possible within the safety of an enclosure.

As free as possible would mean you don't handle them, clip their nails, vaccinate etc...... it would be as close as you could get to setting them 'free' and let nature take it's course. What sex are they? You wouldn't want them reproducing.

It's difficult, what are the biggest risks of setting them free? Predators, other rabbits, inability to make a home and forage for food?

Kate7590 wrote:I think they've been far to humanised to even contemplate letting them go now.
When I handreared a wildy I hardly had any contact apart from feeding and cleaning out cage, this is what I was advised and it worked s/he was still very wild when it came to releasing her/him.

This is what I did and did do with other wildies. But as I say they were older when they came into care. These seem to have always just thought I was mum.

I think that you would enjoy them and they would be loved and safe. They are beautiful. Their sleek ears and body lines are just perfect!

Are there societies in the UK that might help you build an aviary? Are their youth organizations such as the Boy or Girl Scouts that might take building it as a project for some of their achievements in nature or community involvement?

Im not sure what to suggest. Is there not some sort of nature/wildlife reserve where they could just be released? I dont know much about captive wildies. Would it be too much of a risk to take your chances? They see you as Mum, but does that mean they wouldnt be able to survive if they were released?

They are gorgeous!! There is no way they could be released. you will have to get a bigger pram and knit some easter bonnets for them! i think they will make lovely companions for you or someone else...like i said Nettle has the life of riley and am sure in the wild he'd have been munched by now. Average life expectancy of 1 year in the wild - those bunnies will make someone lovely pets.

What a dilemma Charlotte I know you did everything you could to minimise handling them, but because they were literally just born, had to to help them survive. Now they see you as their mum. They absolutely adore you it is so obvious.

Like the others, the only solution is a large run which is really secure as you know they are harder to contain than others. Surely the RSPCA could help as they have sort of got you into this situation.

We are really limited regarding areas of official help I could tap. The rules are that these are wild animals and as such should be returned to the wild. I was talking to one of the Animal Collection Officers the other day and they were saying that the problems lies in the fact that they had their eyes closed when I got them. Apparently if an animal know you before their eyes are open, they imprint on you.

I also found out (a random fact) that if a bird of prey hits your car and is injured, their most likely injury above all else, is detached retinas.

Yep they are tame and they love youx No wild for them I think!

Blimmin heck they are gorgeous too!

Katieb wrote:Yep they are tame and they love youx No wild for them I think!

Blimmin heck they are gorgeous too!

agree with katieb..
they are gorgeous

My only problem is that once they are fully grown I literally have no where to make them an enclosure? And I can't rehome wild babies through the RSPCA.

Hi, I haven't read through the whole thread but I just want to say that I volunteer at a rescue and we have an adult wildie that was hand reared. He is very tame and people oriented and doesn't mind not being int he wild. He had an injury to his neck when he came in at a few days old and is a bit wobbly on his back legs, possibly form nerve damage.
I would try to rehome them yourself, could you possibly have some people foster them when they get older?
I think people do like having wildies, they are more of a challenge than domestic buns but they have sooo much character!
If I had outdoor bunnies I would definitely have rehomed a wildie for Fiver to bond with, he's crazy enough to keep up with one haha.

They are absolutely gorgeous I hope you figure out somewhere for them to go. x

They will be staying with me i think!