We get a lot of calls from people thinking young rabbits are orphaned.
We receive many calls from individuals worried that young rabbits are in distress and/or mom isn’t caring for them. Either they find juvenile rabbits alone, the nest was disturbed by gardeners or pets, or they have generalized anxieties about their well-being. So, people resort to all types of approaches to address these concerns - they may want proof that mom is coming back - in the form of tests or motion-activated cameras. Or, they may simply want to bring them in (to a wildlife center) so they know that someone is caring for them.
On initial examination, these responses may seem reasonable.
But, when the rabbits appear healthy and well-fed. Leaving them be is the only course we support.
Rabbits’ evolved care strategy involve leaving their young alone. Absent evidence to the contrary, the only defensible conclusion is that all is normal. Mom shouldn’t have to prove she’s caring for her young. Tests reverse the burden of proof. Doing so is counter productive because it interferes with the nest and undermines the strategy of secrecy the rabbits are employing in the first place - possibly in detrimental ways (as in alerting predators to the nest’s location) - and these tests don’t work - as we have seen time and again. Mom can nurse without disturbing yarn or cross hatches or triggering motion sensors.
Here is an example of a caller who was adamant about the nest being abandoned since it had been disturbed 4 days prior and his camera hadn’t detected a feeding. After the examination of several pictures, the juvenile cottontails appeared healthy and recently fed. The caller followed our instructions but continued to watch from the window. Sure enough, mom soon came back to nurse. The caller even captured mom nursing with his camera.
Another caller employed cross hatches that hadn’t been triggered in 36 hours. Upon receipt of the pictures, the milk line clearly indicated full bellies. So, we instructed the caller to leave them be. Ultimately, the eagle-eyed caller witnessed mom’s return that night.
Absent any cause to interfere, keep clear. If there isn’t an obvious sign (blood or limps at extreme angles) that something is wrong, assume all is well. That is the best thing for the well-being of these animals. Thanks for caring.
We appreciate your consideratoin
