Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

This topic has 7 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 1 month ago by missceegee.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

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April 6, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Shanna
Participant
So here I was last week fretting over how to do nature study and get my children interested in doing nature notebooks. Just so happens the week before one of my boys asked if it was possible to find a bunny nest. I told him good luck as it is very difficult. Well the Lord answered his prayers and provided him a nest through our dog. It seems that our Great Pyrenees found a nest and felt the need to take care of the bunnies. Unfortunately, she hurt 2 of them in her quest of moving the bunnies as well as totally destroying their nest. We now have 2 cottontail bunnies that we are raising by hand. They are about 11 days old and are just sweet. We are praying over whether or not to make the boys release them once they are 5 weeks old.
Also this weekend we brought home 21 chickens and built a brooder. Nothing better than hands on nature study.
April 7, 2009 at 12:43 am
Karen Smith
Moderator
What a great story! My dogs have never wanted to take care of the bunnies. 🙂
One thought about keeping the rabbits, though, make sure to check all state and local laws concerning keeping wild animals. Most areas have laws that prevent anyone, except those licensed to take care of wild animals, from keeping them. Sometimes this even means that you can’t legally take care of the babies. I know that is hard when you only want to help them.
I certainly don’t want to throw cold water on your wonderful opportunity for a great nature study. Just wanted to make you aware that your decision to release them or not may not be yours to make, but may be dictated by the law.
April 7, 2009 at 1:03 am
Shanna
Participant
Karen,
Yes, we have learned that about the laws and that is why we are praying about it. More praying that our children will understand the need to obey the law even when we do not understand or agree.
April 7, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Shanna
Participant
Well, I just spoke to Parks and Wildlife and thankfully cottontails are considered non-game animals so we are not breaking any laws. Now my boys are all excited because they can go shoot and not have to worry about needing a permit. They raise the babies and shoot the adults. Explain that!!! LOL!!! Gotta love boys!!!
April 7, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Shanna
Participant
And just so no one thinks we are cruel. They will not be shooting the babies!!!
April 7, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Karen Smith
Moderator
Glad you get to raise the babies!
April 8, 2009 at 3:37 am
Mamasong
Member
If the babies are male and female you may find yourselves in the bunny business soon! 🙂
April 8, 2009 at 3:43 am
missceegee
Participant
At the neighborhood park today, we had our on Nature Study moment.
One of the children in our support group, saw something scurrying along in the leaves by the curb. We all went over to find a mole that was missing part of its tail running about, trying to get back up to the grass of the park. One of the boys scooped it up in his shoe and returned it to the bushes. We’re not sure what happened to the tail that was bleeding, but hopefully it will heal. My 8 yo dd says they feel bristly and not soft like they look.
I think I’ll have the kids draw it in their journals tomorrow since we ran out of time today.
I love it when it just happens so simply without any planning on my part! 😆
Christie