I found a Baby Bunny, Raccoon, or Squirrel. What do I do?

Make sure the baby is truly orphaned.

• Is it injured?
• Is it cold?
• Is it dehydrated?
• Does its abdomen and eyes appear sunken-in?
• Is it lethargic, inactive, or uninterested in its surroundings?
• Was it handled by a dog or cat/did you find it near a dog or cat?
• Are there dead siblings/parents near-by?
• Are there flies around the baby?
• Is it in imminent danger?
• Have you spoken with a rehabilitator, and attempted to renest/reunite but have not seen the parents in over 2 to 4 hours?

If you answered yes to ANY of these questions, take the following steps:

• Place the baby in a softly-lined covered box with ventilation.
• Place the box in a warm, dark quiet indoor location away from all humans and pets.
• If you have a heating pad, put it under one half the container that has the animal in it and turn it on low. In a pinch a pop bottle or water bottle with hot water can also be used and wrapped in a t-shirt material and put in with the baby. Do not use towels for bedding. The weave is too loose. It comes undone easily and the threads can wrap around legs, and necks with dire consequences.
• Do Not attempt to give it food or water! The baby may appear hungry, but feeding a weakened animal or providing the wrong diet could cause irreversible complications that could further compromise the baby's condition.
• Contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately. You can get their number by calling your local animal shelters, animal control, or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

If you answered no to all of these questions, or if you are unsure:

• Contact a local Wildlife Rehabilitator for instructions on attempting to renest or reunite the baby with it's parents.

In Ontario Canada, baby bunnies that are larger than a hardball are already independent of their mother. They should be returned to a spot close to where they were found with dense foliage in which they can hide. Keep all pets and other activities away from this area. Smaller babies should be returned to their nest. You will likely never see the mother; she usually only feeds them between dusk and dawn to avoid attracting predators.

The "nest" will look like a shallow depression sparsely lined with the mother's belly fur and dry grasses. It is usually located in high grasses, under bushes, or in flower beds. Return the babies to the nest and lightly cover them with the existing nest material. They will usually stay put if they feel adequately hidden.

If you need to mow or work near an active bunny nest, consider covering the nest with a laundry basket to prevent causing injury to the babies or having the babies "bolt" in fear.