It's bunny season at PMWC! Did you know that momma Eastern Cottontail rabbits leave their babies alone almost the entire day? Yep. They are actually safer without her, because her body odor and size would attract predators to the nest (which isn't much of a nest.. Just a shallow depression covered with grass and lots of mom's grey brown fur.) We get dozens and dozens of calls when people find these nests of tiny bunnies. Many people assume they are orphaned. But mom will sneakily return at dawn and dusk, to feed and care for them. You may never see her. You probably won't.
So, if you find a nest of bunnies (sometimes under a bush but sometimes in the middle of a busy yard) the best thing to do is ignore them. Some less knowledgeable places advise doing some kind of "test" to see if mom is returning, using string or flour to see if it is disturbed. We advise against this! First, they are supposed to be alone! Why assume something is wrong? Second, disturbing the nest unecessarily is just not a good idea. Rabbits have been doing this forever.. We don't need to interfere. The only time such a test is advised if you see a dead adult rabbit nearby. In that case, call us! We can advise you ( there's a chance that's not the mother, too).
What about 'inconveniently placed " nests? For example, what if the nest is in the yard where you let your dog out? There are several things you can do. First, if you are lucky enough to have two yards, just use the other. But If that is the ONLY place your dog can go, you can place something heavy over the nest (like a wooden pallet, child's sliding board, or an overturned wheelbarrow) while your dog is out.
Remove when he goes in. If your are willing, you can walk your dog for the duration.. It's only 3-5 weeks at most, depending when you find the nest. You can always call us if you are unsure and we are happy to advise!
