Put the bunny back

Every year, wildlife rehabbers see a large number of kidnapped baby cottontail rabbits. People scoop up buns with good intentions, believing that they are abandoned. Often, they are brought to a rehab too late to be reunited with their mamas.

If you find baby bunnies alone in a nest or foraging it’s not a cause for concern. Mother rabbits keep their distance during the day to avoid attracting predators, returning at dusk and dawn to nurse the babies. Sometimes they continue to monitor and nurse them after the babies leave the nest!

Unless a bunny is clearly injured or appears sick or lethargic, the best thing you can do is leave it alone and enjoy watching from a distance. It’s important to keep dogs away from nests (here are some tips) and (please please please) keep cats indoors. 

Thanks for being a friend to wildlife!