Why YSK: DON’T bring it somewhere to ‘save’ it unless it’s in immediate danger - you’re probably just kidnapping it from its mom. People find baby deer or rabbits with no parents nearby and think they’re abandoned, so they bring them to shelters to try to “save them”. In reality they’re just forcibly separating the animal from its mother and greatly reducing its survival chances.
Infant rabbits without their mothers don’t do well. Even in professional care settings, they have about a 90% mortality rate. Taking them away from the nest should be a last resort, only when death is guaranteed otherwise.
Deer used to drop off their young in our back yard to hang out with our old dog. Ash was a large and impressive shepherd mix with the most zen attitude I’ve ever seen in a dog. They all trusted him completely. And he did, in fact, take care of them and made sure no animals or humans bothered them.
Ash sounds perfect. This is so sweet!
My back yard is often a sort of “nursery” for a whole crew of doe. Theyll leave them in this patch of tallish grass and ferns and go forage… They’re all sisters, cousins, aunts, etc. I have names for them and watch them grow. The litter bambies right now are so damn cute.
Shitty YSK: Deers and rabbits “park” their babys, spending most of their day away from them. If you find a baby, give them a ticket for parking violation.
Oh boy reddit humor making its way over here?
To piggy back on this, you can touch “baby” animals. The mother will not leave them. If you disturb a nest, den, etc, place the young back to where they came and the mother will come back,.
Usually. this isnt always the case (look at what happened in Yellowstone)
Is there an easy mobile paywall blocker for NY times?
Same thing with baby seals on the beach! Leave them alone!
Never thought I’d be jealous of parenting techniques from a rodent. Rabbit parents get to JUST PEACE OUT FOR A BIT? Like, I get it…kids are shitty…but the organizational prowess it takes to just get a coffee with my wife away from the little terrors makes work seem easy.
I always seem to find them when I’m weed whacking in the spring they always come springing out of nowhere 2 seconds before plastic twine death.
Of course the kid want pets; and then I always put them back with some extra shade.
I thought this is only true if it’s in a den or “nest” … I once found a baby rabbit in the scorching heat just laying on some landscaping rocks.
I had no idea. Thanks for sharing.
