In El Dorado, California, crossing paths with wildlife is a familiar part of any walk near the lake.
Mathilda was used to seeing animals during her outings, but one particular stroll revealed something she never anticipated: a small, wriggling bundle of fur tucked into the dirt.
She stopped immediately, drawn in by curiosity, and the moment she understood what she was looking at, she knew exactly what she needed to do next.
A Tiny Life Left Behind
As Mathilda leaned in, she recognized the creature as a rabbit. Something about its behavior felt unusual.
Then the rabbit made the first move. “She came up and asked me to pet her,” Mathilda shared in a Facebook video posted by The Dodo.
That simple gesture made everything obvious.
This was no wild rabbit; it had clearly been a domestic pet, abandoned and left to fend for itself. Its eagerness for affection reflected the loneliness it had endured.
Tugged by compassion, Mathilda decided to bring the rabbit home to Los Angeles. At the veterinarian’s office, her concerns were confirmed: the rabbit had no microchip.
Mathilda adopted her immediately, giving her the name Honeybun, though she quickly became known as Bun Bun.
Providing this gentle rabbit a safe, loving home felt like the most meaningful part of her day. Yet life had another surprise in store.
An Unexpected Addition To The Family
Shortly after settling in, Bun Bun began behaving oddly. “She started ripping out fabric, nesting a lot, gaining a lot of weight,” Mathilda said.
Mathilda initially wondered if she was overfeeding her, but it turned out there was another explanation.
“The next thing I knew, I just saw three little feet popping up from underneath her belly,” she recalled.
Bun Bun had been pregnant all along. Overnight, Mathilda’s household expanded unexpectedly.
Despite the unexpected turn, Mathilda was thrilled. “I felt so proud,” she said. “I was really happy just looking at them.”
As the tiny babies grew into playful little rabbits, Mathilda’s affection multiplied. Managing four energetic bunnies was challenging, but the experience only strengthened her bond with them.
The experience also inspired a new ambition.
“Having these bunnies in my life has made me want to foster more rescue bunnies in the future,” Mathilda said. “And even start a rescue.”
Her journey with Bun Bun may have been unplanned, but it sparked a passion that could change countless lives.
