Rescue
Rehabilitate
Release
If the rabbit is
larger than a
softball and
weighs more
than 4 ounces
or 100 grams,
LEAVE IT ALONE!
It is on its own
and does not need
human intervention
Is the rabbit
fully furred
with its eyes
opened?
I FOUND A
BABY RABBIT
Do any of the following
apply to the rabbit?
- it is bleeding, has an open wound,
or has a broken bone
- it's been in a cat's or dog's mouth
- it's covered in fly eggs(these look like small grains of rice)
- it's cold, wet or crying nonstop
Locate the nest and put the rabbit back.
You will not see a lot of activity at the nest; mother rabbits stay away to avoid leading predators to their young.
To check for nest activity, lay four pieces of string in a tic-tac-toe pattern over the nest. Leaves the area and check in 12 hours.
if the mother rabbit has returned, the strings will be out of place.
If the strings are undisturbed and the young rabbits have missed more than two feedings (early morning
and dusk), the rabbits should be taken to a permitted rehabilitator.
Rabbits are a sensitive
and high-stress species.
Never chase a rabbit to capture it, and handle it as little as possible
DO NOT give food or water to injured or orphaned rabbits; they have very sensitive stomachs
YES
NO
NO
YES
Take the RABBIT
to a wildlife rehabilitator or
a veterinarian
COTTONTAIL FACTS
Nest March - September
Average litter 4 - 5 babies
Litters per season 3 - 4
Disperse at 15 - 20 days old
nests are found in shallow depressions on the ground
(cottontails do not burrow),
covered with soft grasses
and lined with tufts of the
mother rabbit's fur
Mother rabbits are very secretive so they don't draw attention to their nests; it is very rare that you will see a mother rabbit coming and going
Mom feeds her young only two times a day; at dusk and dawn
A word about mowing:
Do not attempt to mow within 10 feet of a rabbit's nest if there are babies present.
Protect a nest during mowing by placing a plastic lattice laundry basket upside down over the nest. Remove after mowing