A few weeks ago, Max, Macy and I were on a walk around the condo when Max got startled by something in the grass. It looked like a chipmunk and not the living kind because it wasn’t moving.
I went a little closer and it blinked and moved a bit. It was a little baby bunny, stranded in the grass under the hot and humid sun. She was barely responsive.
I rushed the dogs home, turned a Chewy box into a carrier, and dashed back to scoop up the baby bunny.
She was in bad shape. Her head was tilted and she had trouble moving. Probably heat stroke. I gave her some water and went to sleep.
The next morning she was moving around a bit, but really uncoordinated and lob-sided.
She was basically unable to use one side of her body. But that didn’t stop her from trying to move around and peer out of the box.
Most of the day though, she just barrel rolled. I mixed some kitten formula and heavy cream and got her to take some.
At night however, I started to think we had to find a way to humanely let her go. I couldn’t find mom’s nest and even then the bunny wouldn’t survive out there wobbling on her own.
The third day though I woke to scratching sounds and her moving around on all fours! Her head was still tilted but she seemed more alert.
I got some alfalfa from the shelter and she ate it up.
She even seemed to push me off as I tried to feed her. “Dude, I know how to eat alfalfa!”
The wife of a volunteer friend at the shelter volunteers (herself) at a wildlife rehabilitator that takes in bunnies (a rare thing it seems).
So I connected with them while I was at the shelter and after talking for a bit and finding out they would be open late, I left the shelter and rushed her up to them. They have meds that can help with neurological damage if given early so hopefully I got her there in time.
I named her Sol ☀️ 🙂
Way to go!! Lucky bunny!
Thanks for sharing this tender experience, Michael. ❤️