There's a bunny on our patio -- Help, please!

[Karen]

Awww, what a cutie! Is the patio enclosed? How do you think he got there?

[cassiesmom]

In the top picture you can see the railing around the patio. We thought he either fell through the fence or maybe was dropped by a hawk. He doesn't seem to be injured, although we haven't really seen him move. his hidey-spot seems to be the bush on the left in the second picture. He can keep cool under there. He can't go anywhere, but the biggest worry is that he can find enough to eat and drink. He's so little.

[chocolatepuppy]

Aww, cute little bunny! I hope you're able to catch him and relocate him.

[cassiesmom]

Bunny is still safe on the patio. He has a lot of watchers between my department and pastoral care. He spends most of the time in the shade (usually under the bush in the top right corner of #3) but he sometimes hops around in the late afternoon.

[Karen]

That makes sense, bunnies are crepuscular - that means they are most active in the early morning, and late afternoon, and sleep mid day and at night. Glad he's safe!

[cassiesmom]

That makes sense, bunnies are crepuscular - that means they are most active in the early morning, and late afternoon, and sleep mid day and at night. Glad he's safe!

Karen, he was being very crepuscular today, lil stinker. Plant and grounds has decided to try to relocate him back on the V.A. property, farther from the highway. He's got people from at least three different departments keeping an eye on him on the patio, though. Plant and grounds put a humane trap out on the patio, but it was 90 degrees out today and he hides under the ivy most of the day. They removed the trap before shift change, because they didn't want the bunny in the trap overnight. Sure enough-- about 30 minutes later, guess who was hopping around munching on the grass growing between the patio tiles. When I go home from work I often see a bunny or two hopping in the grass of the V.A. side of campus. Oh well, "our" bunny is safe from cars while he's out on the patio.

[Karen]

Hey, with those daytime temperatures, it makes sense to hide in the shade during the heat of the day! If it's gonna be super hot again tomorrow, you could throw a plastic bottle full of water in the freezer overnight, and leave it near where he likes to hide in the shade - it'll be cooler near it, and the condensation on the bottle make for nice, cool sips.