PATIENT OF THE WEEK
Mother’s Day Miracle
Recently, a mother Desert Cottontail was brought to Tucson Wildlife Center after being hit by a car and dragged a short distance. She arrived in critical condition—suffering from road rash on her left leg and back, a corneal ulcer in one eye, a ruptured eardrum, pulmonary contusions, and head trauma. She was lactating, but sadly, no babies were found nearby—our hope is they are old enough to survive on their own.
Thanks to the quick actions of a compassionate finder and our dedicated wildlife care team, this brave mom began to stabilize within a few days. Then, on Mother’s Day, something extraordinary happened—two tiny, 3- to 4-day-old orphaned cottontail siblings were brought to the Center after their nest was destroyed. Our vet saw a unique opportunity: with the mother bunny recovering and still producing milk, could she accept these orphaned kits as her own? Without hesitation, she did!
The little ones nestled right in, and she began nursing them immediately. It was a beautiful and instant bond—one that helps the mother emotionally as she continues to recover physically and gives the kits the best chance at thriving and growing up wild.
This pairing was especially significant because newborn Desert Cottontails at this age have very poor survival rates on specialized formula alone. Their gastrointestinal tracts are not fully developed, and replacement formulas—even the best available—cannot replicate the vital immune and microbiome components of their mother’s milk. While older infants may do well on formula, neonates like these have a much better chance when raised by a nursing mother. If you would like to help patients like these Desert Cottontails, click this link to donate,
Another way you can contribute is to visit our “wish list” on Amazon or Chewy below:
We appreciate it, as will all the wild animals in our care!
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