Last night we had some big storms pass through, and this morning when I went to the front yard I saw a rabbit lying in my grass, soaking wet, looking dead. I thought it was another special delivery from the cat in my neighborhood, but when I started walking away it started trying to raise its head.
I don't know if it was attacked, or what, but it is clearly dying. I know it is just 1 little rabbit, but I'm so sad about it. The local animal rescue opens soon, but I would have to pick it up (which terrifies me) and put it in a box and bring it there with my 3 kids.
Help psych me up to pick it up--wild animals really scare me!
Yes, Willowbrook Wildlife is exactly where I intend to bring it.
Update: OMGoodness - I just finished gathering the necessary items to pick it up, and go to the front door and see a crow standing on it, pecking it apart. The poor thing is still writhing. My morning is ruined. I've gotta get the kids out of the house so I don't keep looking and so they don''t go watch it.
I thought about it, Beth, but I can't stand guard over the poor thing all day. I've got 3 kids under age 6 and 2 of them know how to unlock the doors. They never let me go outside alone.
ETA2: Well, I did go out and try to shoo the crow away. He turned and squawked at me, but didn't budge from his feast. Sorry, I'd rather not get pecked than interfere with the circle of life. When he finally left, after several minutes of feeding, the rabbit was definitely dead. I put a cardboard box over it, with a rock on top.
My neighbor grew up on a farm, so when he got home from work he took care of it right away. I love my neighbor, in a strictly good-neighbor way :)
Oh no! That's sucks! No advice, just feeling for you.
It's a lot easier if the kids don't know it's there, right?
:)
Go and pick up the rabbit.
Do not leave it there in your yard, please.
Simply put a plastic bag over your hands, and you can pick it up and put it in a box.
It might not have been dying, or it could have been. But you don't know.
Now a Crow is pecking at it. Because it is laying there and can't move.
You need to remove the rabbit and pick it up, or worse will happen to it.
If you can't bear to pick it up, then have a neighbor do it.
When we had a sick raccoon in our backyard, I used a snow shovel to pick it up and put it in a box. We took it to the Willowbrook Wild Life Center in Glen Ellyn.
For the rabbit, I would wear heavy duty gloves and use a bath towel. It will probably squirm and it might even scream, just don't drop it! I hope you have a box or carrier to put it in.
Good luck!
Please put on a pair of work gloves, pick the rabbit up and put in a box. Then take it to a veterinarian or wildlife facility for euthanasia. Wash your hands after you handle the bunny. That's it. Rabies is extremely extremely rare in rabbits. Rabbits virtually never bite anyway - you could get scratched by the hind legs but you will be wearing gloves and being careful so unlikely. I am a veterinarian who has worked with wildlife for years and of all the wildlife people bring in - rabbits are among the easiest for people to put in a box.
We had a rabbit trapped in our fence last week and had to take it out. It died on the way to the closest hospital but it would never occur to me NOT to help. Please try.
Yes.....I would wear gardening gloves, and use a towel, have a box close by so you don't have to move it far, be very gentle and get the poor baby to the rescue place ASAP! Good luck! Keep us posted.
Scare the dang bird away......go quickly...and don't bring the kids out to stress the bunny any more! Hurry!
And you didn't go out there and shew the crow away??
:( Awww, poor bunny. I hope something comes along to brighten your day and help get your mind off this.
It's sad but really not much you can do for it. Especially if the crow is already eating it.
Oh man this would be super tough - ughhh. I would not be able to deal with it!!!!!!!! Not the support you're looking for, sorry.
That is sad, and upsetting but no way could I do anything.
I hope your animal rescue people will do something.
If you have a huge box that you can open one end, lay on the ground then w/thick work gloves try to scoot the rabbit in?
Then you can take it to the vet/animal hospital.
Don't let the kids out there w/you.
bless your heart for trying to help this poor rabbit.
Does a neighbor have a gun that they can shoot it with to put it out of it's misery?
Please DO NOT pick it up!! A sick, wild animal is very scared and even thought it may look weak, it still may lash out. Who knows, it may have rabies! If it were me I'd call my husband and ask him to come home to shoot it and put it out of its misery. If animal control is going to take forever, call the non-emergency police line and explain you have children and if there's an officer nearby that could quickly dispose of the animal, you'd appreciate it.
not sure about IL but did you read about the guy who was trying to save a mouse from a choking cat and ended up with the black plague? It was on cnn the other day and his hands are all black and he will have to lose all his fingers. Dont touch wild animals esp dying ones they could be really sick. As for the crow, dont watch but its all part of the circle of life.
Depending on how sick it is (or near death), it will startle and jerk or lay there placidly. Be prepared for either so you don't startle yourself. I agree with Jubee's advice. A snow shovel would be good but gloves and a thick towel will work. I would wear long pants and shoes just in case the rabbit kicks out. Have the box right there with open flaps so you don't have to carry the rabbit far. Leave the kids in the house or far away so they don't add to the situation. I have rescued several sick/dying animals in our yard or at the office. Focus on the good deed rather than the wild animal aspect. Well done I say and good luck.
Updated....you need a touch of macabre humor to go with your Hitchcock morning. You think you're having a bad morning. What about the rabbit? :P Poor taste but it's the best I can do you. Sounds like it is time for burial. Our bunch is used to that since we've sent off mice, birds, squirrels and kittens from the neighborhood. Kids take it in stride. Good luck and hopefully your day turns around rapidly.
I'm glad you didn't pick it up. My husband had to pick a very large, dead crow up from our yard once. He didn't think twice about getting the crow out of the yard but he had nightmares for weeks. The feel of it, the weight if it, the crow's eyes looking at him, it really freaked him out. I think that if you are not use to that sort of thing it can really mess with you. I don't think that he will ever pick up a dead animal, of any kind, ever again.
