What is a Wild Life Rehabber?
Are (non-paid) volunteers of mother nature with a love and passion for wild life. We are educated and prepared to take into our care injured or orphaned wild animals to rehabilitate and release back into the wild...where they belong.
How do I become a wild life rehabber?
Contact your DNR for your state. They will give you the information that you need. For Georgia, www.georgiawildlife.com you will need to study for a test and set up your rehab facility/room for inspection. You are not legal without a permit from DNR and if you have any wildlife in your care prior to being permitted you can be fined $ and even brought under prosecution by the state.
Why do you do it?
Do you want the long version or the short version? To sum it up...in 2 words.. I CARE.
That sounds like such a fun job, how much does it pay?
You don't get paid with money...you get paid with joy and love. I get paid with bunny kisses and bunny binks.
How do I know if the wild bunny is old enough to be on its own?
I determine if a bunny is old enough by weight, size and maturity of instincts. If a caller is asking me...I am only concerned with size and weight. The bunny needs to be about the size of a baseball when placed in the palm of your hand. Measured in weight, about 130grams or 4 1/2 ounces.
They are so cute! Do they all look the same?
To most people...yes. To me...no. It's kind of like how a mother can tell the difference in her identical twin kids. I can notice different little things about their appearances and definately their personalities.
Why is cow's milk bad for wild bunnies? My grandpa raised them just fine on it.
Simply put...The cow's milk of TODAY...is not the cow's milk of YESTERYEAR. The cow's milk of today is loaded with additives, pasteurized and from different locations all over the United States.
What do you feed them?
If you are a licensed wild life rehabber, you may contact me directly to get my formula contents with ratios and feeding protocol.
If you are NOT a licensed wild life rehabber, I will NOT give you my formula contents or ratio. You need to contact a rehabber as soon as possible to get the rabbit to them. You need to be versed in hydration detection prior to administrating any type of food/formula or a certain miserable death will occur. You also need to be trained on feeding protocols to avoid chances of aspiration which will lead to pnuemonia followed by a long painful death. I do NOT want the guilt of your rabbit death on my conscious, I have enough to deal with...
Why can't I raise it like you do? Will you train me or let me help you in your rehab room?
You need to be licensed with your state and have rehabbed other critters prior to attempting rabbit rehab. You need to be able to and understand how to deal with your own personal stresses of life as to not transfer them to the rabbits. Rabbits can and will pick up on your emotions and attitude very easily. I would love to have help in my rehab room but sadly I can not nor will I take a chance on the life of the rabbits. The rabbits become acustomed to certain smells, noises, schedules and sights. (Like a child that is OCD). Even little changes or disturbances can stress a rabbit...which will then lead to other complications (longer healing time, diarrhea, bloat, etc)
Why can't I keep a wild rabbit as a pet?
- It is illegal to detain any wild animal without a permit.
- A wild rabbit is meant to be free not owned or treated as a pet.
- They can NOT handle to stress of captivity.
- They can NOT get the proper nutrition that they need for a healthy life from us only they know what they need and it is readily available for them in the wild.
- Unless you want a dead rabbit as a pet.
Where can I get a pet bunny rabbit?
There are plenty of organizations that can help you with this. I suggest contacting your local house rabbit society regarding adoptions or fostering. In Georgia, www.houserabbitga.org . You can also check you local animal shelters or www.petfinder.com
Please research and educate yourself prior to making the decision of owning a domestic rabbit. You can not just dump it in a park when you are tired of it. There are way toooooo many domestic rabbits out there that have been abandoned and abused...please don't do the same.
