Baby Bunnies Surprise Anchorage Apartment Tenant

April 26, 2012|By Samantha Angaiak | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Gilbert Sanchez says he received a big surprise at his front door three days ago: a pile of grass. Thinking his neighbors were playing a joke on him, he got rid of the clump.

The pranksters were at it again two days later, leaving another mound of grass at his front door-- only this time, Sanchez discovered that the "grass" was breathing.

After taking a closer look, he realized the bundle was actually a nest filled with seven baby rabbits. With no mother present at the time, Sanchez placed a box next to the nest for protection.

Sanchez wasn't sure who the rabbits belonged to, so he posted on Facebook requesting help from friends who might know a thing or two about rabbit care. He said he received emails and phone calls from people as far away as Germany.

After learning from a veterinarian that the rabbits or "kittens" must be left alone for at least six weeks until the babies are big enough to be weaned, Sanchez now faces a problem.

Sanchez is currently in the process of moving out of his apartment, and says he may be gone for more than two weeks. Since the bunnies are too young to be moved from the nest, Sanchez is concerned no one will be around to check on them.

Veterinarians told Sanchez not to touch the nest because the mother rabbit will never return to feed them if she senses human contact. Sanchez hopes to stay at the complex long enough for the bunnies to be weaned and given away to good homes.

In the event that the mother does not return, the rabbits will have to be bottle-fed every two hours, which is something Sanchez is unable to do.

"So far, the mom's been back every night and sometimes in the daytime to feed them," Sanchez said.

Sanchez's Native American friends from various tribes around the Lower 48 have told him in Native American mythology, he is a very lucky man, since the mother rabbit chose him as the bunnies' caretaker.

Sanchez compares finding the rabbits to a stork leaving a baby at his front doorstep.

"I feel very blessed that this has happened...I put it on Facebook as 'a gift from nature.' It's a very unique thing to happen," Sanchez said.

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