Sometimes I hate being a husky mom. Hate been a rural land dweller. Damn Z'ev!

I was out pruning an out of control grape vine on the edge of my vegetable garden, scheduled to be plowed and tilled this week. Heard some squeeking. Damn Mama Rabbit made a nest in what is to be the peas/beans bed this year. And Z'ev found out. Given his muzzle he can only mangle the babies, not eat them. One is gone Two have skin tears, the rest, don't know how many but waaayyyy more than I want in my garden, are fine.

I've called a wildlife rehabilitation place in Ithaca - said this time of year there are hundreds of calls and not likely anyone can take them. Best bet is leave them be, when the Mama comes back tonight, she will realize the nest has been found and will relocate them. If not, I should relocate them not far away so she can find them again.

I HAVE TWO HUSKIES!!! And I don't want rabbits anywhere near my garden!!!

I can't bring myself to drown them.  I can't bring myself to let Ami in there to eat them.  I can't even bring my self to just spread them out on the ground to perish from exposure.  I am a wuss.

Sigh. Why wasn't I born a psychopath

I think people who love dogs generally love animals...and are compassionate to them.
I love my dog, but I also loved my cat.
And our series of cute wheeking guinea pigs which we had when the kids were little.
As a teen, I spent my weekends at stables riding horses and mucking stalls. Love horses...
Last week I helped a turtle that was crossing the street.
Even the mice in our pantry were “ catch and release”...we trapped them with peanut butter, brought them to a vacant lot, and released them under a bush.

Animals have their own lives, our fellow creatures on earth, we should try to be kind to them...
I am glad you are not a psychopath!! :-)

PS You could try “ catch and release” on the bunnies...relocate them to the fields way off your property!

Shepsky13 wrote:

PS You could try “ catch and release” on the bunnies...relocate them to the fields way off your property!

That would be great...except these babies don't even have their eyes open yet and can barely move around. According to the wildlife guy I spoke with, mama rabbits visit the babies once in the morning and once at night and leave them alone for the rest of the day. I suppose that is to protect from predators. Huskies excluded, of course

I would have a tough time with bunnies too, even if they were invading my garden (if I had one) etc.

Now gophers? Different story.

I can't drown them, but I can thump them in the head. Being a raw feeder, I've done away with a few rabbits in my time, though usually adults. Babies make good snacks for dogs though.

Jenn - I wish I was so configured. Babies are still present this morning. I've hatched up a plan that is a good balance with my conscience AND the health of my garden. With the weather being as it is, I'll leave them in place until Thurs/Fri. Then, if they are still in place, I'll move them 10 feet to the west, out of the way of the tractor. I'll cover the few vulnerable plants with chicken wire to protect from Mama. As soon as the babies are able to eat greenery, I'll trap them and release in the brush of the conservation area across the road. Once they are 2-3 weeks old, I'll put up something to keep them from escaping. Apparantly, baby rabbits are extremely difficult to keep alive without Mama so rehabbing them is close to a death sentence anyway. And...if a predator gets them, so be it.

My guideline:

https://www.2ndchance.info/bunnies.htm

That is a great and informative website!

That sounds like about all you can be expected to do for them...
keeping them from being husky snacks,
and giving them a chance at life. :-)

(Animal-lover viewpoint here...I have family members who have put poison in their backyard to get rid of badgers, use deathtraps for rats, etc...I am in the minority in my family and maybe the human race, I don't know )

D race, as far as I know it.