Rabbit filmed rescued from California wildfire recovering

The singed bunny which was filmed being heroically rescued from California’s wildfire is recovering well at a local animal center. 

The female cottontail, who suffered burns to both her ears and feet, was taken to California Wildlife Center in Malibu by the mystery savior last Wednesday.

Duane Tom, the director of animal care at center, said the rescued rabbit may lose a toe, and its ears were severely blistered, but it’s feet were looking much better, and it was on the road to recovery.

 ‘This rabbit was lucky someone was willing to risk his life to get her,’ he told DailyMail.com, ‘although we don’t recommend that.’

Caleb Wadman, 21, has since revealed that he was the brave bunny rescuer who risked his life in a viral footage to save it from the flames and take it to the a veterinary hospital.  

The singed bunny which was filmed being heroically rescued from California’s wildfire is recovering well and could soon be released back into the wild

Caleb Wadman, 21, has since revealed that he was the brave bunny rescuer who risked his life in a viral footage to save it from the flames and take it to the a veterinary hospital (pictured)

Caleb Wadman, 21, has since revealed that he was the brave bunny rescuer who risked his life in a viral footage to save it from the flames and take it to the a veterinary hospital (pictured)

Oscar Gonzalez, 19, had initially insisted that he was the man in the footage, telling the press that he’d saved an ‘entire rabbit family’ from the flames.

But details in his account didn’t add up, and the California Wildlife Center and Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital have since confirmed it was Wadman who brought the cottontail in.

Wadman told the Huffington Post that he was on the highway in La Conchita when he spotted the wild rabbit ‘in significant distress.’ 

‘I just ran out,’ he said. ‘I had faith… and that’s when the bunny ran back towards the flames. And I was like, “No, baby bunny, I’m here. I’m going to take care of you.”‘

Pictured is the injured rabbit that he took the local veterinary hospital

Pictured is the injured rabbit that he took the local veterinary hospital

Wadman drove the rabbit to Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital and it was later transferred to the California Wildlife Center where it is being treated for burns (pictured)

Wadman drove the rabbit to Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital and it was later transferred to the California Wildlife Center where it is being treated for burns (pictured)

Wadman is pictured holding the injured rabbit while vets assessed it's condition 

Wadman is pictured holding the injured rabbit while vets assessed it’s condition 

Caleb Wadman, 21, (above) says that he was the brave bunny rescuer - and his story has backed up by a local veterinary office and a wildlife rehabilitation center

Caleb Wadman, 21, (above) says that he was the brave bunny rescuer – and his story has backed up by a local veterinary office and a wildlife rehabilitation center

Wadman then drove the rabbit to the veterinary hospital and it was later transferred to the California Wildlife Center where it is being treated for burns.

Staff at the veterinary hospital said that the man who brought in the injured animal was wearing the same clothes as the rescuer in the viral video, and told them he’d found the rabbit in the same area the footage was shot.

Tom said initially that staff were concerned if the rabbit would ever recover.

But almost a week after she was brought in, the animal is doing so well that she could soon be released. 

And while Wadman’s actions were criticized by some after the footage of his animal rescue went viral – with critics complaining a wild rabbit would not have needed human intervention. 

Gonzalez ran towards the rabbit after jumping out of his car but frightened it and it scurried it away from him 

Gonzalez ran towards the rabbit after jumping out of his car but frightened it and it scurried it away from him 

The teenager was filmed  jumping up and down as it ran towards the flames and away from him 

The teenager was filmed jumping up and down as it ran towards the flames and away from him 

Tom said that in this case, the creature was in dire need of medical help.

Meanwhile, Gonzales said in his own account that he’d not taken the rabbit to the vets but had carried it to the other side of the road and let it go. 

Gonzales, who works for a commercial refrigerator installer, lives in Pacoima with his fiancée and their five-month-old son, said he’d been driving a friend home from work in Sylmar when he said he saw a white rabbit running along the side of the highway as the flames raged next to it. 

‘I knew it was dangerous but I couldn’t leave them to burn!’ he told DailyMail.com on Friday.  

Gonzalez said he chased after it, before it hopped straight into his arms and allowed him to carry it to the other side of the highway where there were no flames. He even claimed he in fact saved the whole ‘rabbit family’. 

Oscar Gonzalez, 19, claimed on Friday that he was the man who was filmed picking up a rabbit from the side of the highway in Ventura, California, on Wednesday

Oscar Gonzalez, 19, claimed on Friday that he was the man who was filmed picking up a rabbit from the side of the highway in Ventura, California, on Wednesday

‘I saw two other rabbits with it. I thought to myself it was the rabbit’s family. 

‘The rabbit’s family probably thought I was gonna hurt it [but] when I picked up the rabbit, they followed,’ he said.   

Gonzalez then took it to the other side of the highway and set it free again before getting back in his car. 

‘I quickly picked the rabbit up and walked to the other side where there wasn’t fire,’ he said.  

Exasperated, he tapped on his legs to beckon it like a dog and shouted 'what are you doing!?'

Exasperated, he tapped on his legs to beckon it like a dog and shouted 'what are you doing!?'

Exasperated, he tapped on his legs to beckon it like a dog and shouted ‘what are you doing!?’ 

Gonzalez said the animal then ran towards him and allowed him to scoop it up. Video of the rescue shows him stretching out to grab it from behind 

Gonzalez said the animal then ran towards him and allowed him to scoop it up. Video of the rescue shows him stretching out to grab it from behind 

The 19-year-old carried the rabbit to the other side of the highway and set it free again

The 19-year-old carried the rabbit to the other side of the highway and set it free again

Gonzalez said the animal's young followed him across the road. They were not seen in the video

Gonzalez said the animal’s young followed him across the road. They were not seen in the video

The teenager works for Anthony’s, a Sylmar-based company which produces and installs the large refrigerator doors used in stores like Costco. 

He said the ordeal was frightening and that he could feel the heat of the flames on his face as he tried to coax the rabbit into his arms. 

‘The flames were so close,’ he said. 

Many celebrated his efforts but wildlife experts were not among them.

They said Gonzalez put himself and others at great risk by walking towards the fire and that the rabbit, as a wild animal, knew instinctively how to survive without his intervening.  

The father-of-one said he could not watch as the 'poor' rabbits ran between the flames so decided to intervene 

The father-of-one said he could not watch as the ‘poor’ rabbits ran between the flames so decided to intervene 

Among the many thousands who praised Gonzalez and dubbed him a hero was Ellen De Generes

Among the many thousands who praised Gonzalez and dubbed him a hero was Ellen De Generes

Hundreds of thousands shared their support for Gonzalez's act but others labeled him an 'idiot' for putting himself - and the first responders who would have had to save him if he came to harm - at risk 

Hundreds of thousands shared their support for Gonzalez’s act but others labeled him an ‘idiot’ for putting himself – and the first responders who would have had to save him if he came to harm – at risk 

Rabbits are among the wild animals which are most likely to survive wildfires because they normally burrow from the flames. 

Desert cottontail rabbits, which are common in Southern in California, typically give birth to young around this time of year. 

Since the fires took hold earlier this week, experts have warned residents not to get in the way of any wild animals in the area.  

‘If you encounter a wild animal in your neighborhood, leave it alone. 

‘Fire or no fire, just let the animals be. Fire is something animals have to deal with constantly,’ California Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira told San Francisco Gate.  



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