Why can you not touch wild bunnies?

Question

I found a nest of wild bunnies, rather a dog found them he killed one, I got the other one, I found the nest put it back and filled it up with a little more grass cuttings, and got more branches from the bush they were in and covered the entrance. They now have there eyes open, I check them everyday, and will pick them up to see if they are thriving and it seem so. They are very docile with me, so why is it so bad that I touch them?

Answer 1

You know if one bites you to call a doctor immediately...

Also their senses of smell are better than humans... Have you ever heard not to touch a baby bird because it's mother won't come back to it? It's kinda like that.

Also, if you have other furry pets... if these rabbits have fleas/ mites, and you pet your animal afterwards, you can give fleas to your own pets... Handling wild animals just isn't a smart idea. Let the animal live it's life. If it dies, so be it. It's none of your concern.

Answer 2

They could have a disease, wild animals generally aren't safe to touch even if they look fine.  

Answer 3

take the bunnies and animal shelter can help the bunnies if their babies put them in box and take them 2 the animal shelter  

Answer 4

if you touch them so much the mother wont take care of it

Answer 5

You really shouldn't be doing that. They could have any disease and a lot of them can make them snap at you randomly, rabies and others.  

Answer 6

I/My Dog/My Cat Found a Rabbit Nest! What Do I Do?

Rabbits hide their nests in plain view, often putting them in the open; for example, in the middle of the lawn, as well as in brush piles and long grass. If you find a nest that has been disturbed, do all you can to restore and protect it rather than bring the infants inside. If a dog has discovered the nest, keep your dog away from the area and reconstruct the nest with grasses. If need be, you can move the nest a few feet away where safer.

Rabbit mothers nurse their babies for approximately 5 minutes a day. They will be in the nest or nest box early in the morning and then again in the evening. The milk is very rich and the babies "fill up" to capacity within minutes. Mother rabbits do not "sit" on the babies to keep them warm as do some mammals and birds. They build a nest with fur and grasses which helps to keep the babies warm in between feedings. Do not force a mother rabbit to sit in the nest box. You can pick up the babies and see if they are feeding by checking the size of their stomachs (should not be sunken in), the pinkness of their skin and activity level (they should not be blue in color or sluggish in movement) and the amount of time that you hear them crying (baby bunnies should be quiet most of the day....if they are crying constantly then they are not getting fed). If you come across a nest of bunnies in the wild and the mother is no where to be seen, please DO NOT disturb them...this is normal. By removing them from the nest you are greatly reducing their chances of survival.

If your dog disturbs a nest or you find a wild bunny with its eyes open, please put him back if not injured. Mom will be coming back at night to call and feed him only once in the middle of the night. Do not take the bunny inside or feed him. That is the mom's job. IT IS A MATTER OF HIS/HER SURVIVAL AND UP TO US AS HUMANS TO LEAVE NATURE BE AND LET THE MOM CARE FOR HER YOUNG. We often hear of mothers moving their babies and their nests, and have seen moms come back every night for up to a week to look for her missing baby. Do not take the baby from the mom or she will be frantic.

Answer 7

they might have rabies

Answer 8

if you touch the babies your scent will be left on them and when mother comes back and smells that, many times the mother will abandon her babies.

if thery are still doing fine and growing then you were lucky and the mom doesn't care. most of the time this is not the case.