Well, the reason most people fail is because most wildlife has a hard time digesting human and pet formulas and they grow so very fast that these formulas don't give them near enough of the nutrition that they need. Cottontails rabbits are on their own by about 4 weeks of age so they must have the right nutrition for their quickly growing bodies. Also, cottontails eat their own feces (actually just one type of dropping that called a cecal that is different from the normal rabbit dropping) and it gives them the beneficial gut flora to digest foods. You would not typically be able to provide this so that is a reason they die. Also, most people love on and talk to wildlife not realizing that we are considered a predator and those things are not normal...it scares them literally to death sometimes. Can you imagine what your heart sounds like to an eyes closed baby animal when you hold it close to your chest and in closed hands? The best thing for wildlife if truly orphaned is to find a licensed rehabber and get them to them right away. If you find wildlife that's orphaned or injured, put it in a closed box and keep it in a warm place until you find help. Feeding them can cause more harm than good if you give it the wrong thing and especially if it's cold and/or starving.

Take care!

Maryjane