What to Do If You Find Baby Bunnies in Your Yard

Spring and summer are prime seasons for spotting wildlife in your yard, including baby bunnies tucked into shallow nests. If you stumble upon a litter of tiny rabbits nestled in the grass, your first instinct might be to scoop them up and help. But in most cases, the best thing you can do is leave them where they are.

Here’s what you should know if you discover baby bunnies in your yard.

Don’t Kidnap the Bunnies

It’s easy to assume a nest of bunnies has been abandoned, especially since mother rabbits are rarely seen nearby. But that’s completely normal. Wild rabbits are very hands-off parents. A mother rabbit visits her nest once or twice a day, usually at dawn or dusk, to avoid attracting predators. The rest of the time, she leaves her babies hidden.

So if you don’t see mom, that doesn’t mean she’s gone. She’s likely nearby, watching and waiting for a time to return.

How to Recognize a Nest

Rabbit nests are typically shallow depressions in the ground, often lined with grass, leaves, and tufts of the mother’s fur. They’re commonly found in backyards, gardens, and even under shrubs: places you wouldn’t expect such vulnerable creatures to be.

If you spot a nest while mowing the lawn or letting your dog out, mark the area with small garden flags or string to avoid disturbing it.

What You Should Do

• Leave the bunnies where they are. Resist the urge to touch or move them.
• Keep pets and children away. Use fencing or temporary barriers to protect the nest.
• Check for signs of injury. If a bunny appears cold, injured, or covered in flies, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.
• Test if mom is returning. Place a few small sticks over the nest in a grid pattern and check back the next day. If the sticks are disturbed, mom has likely returned and fed them.

When to Call for Help

Baby bunnies rarely need human intervention. However, if the nest has been destroyed, the bunnies are clearly orphaned (eyes closed and alone for more than 24 hours), or a pet has injured them, it’s time to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator like Anderson Humane.

Anderson Humane 

Anderson Humane’s Wildlife Center
(847) 697-2880 x25
45W061 IL-38
Elburn, IL 60119
wildlife@ahconnects.org
Open 9 AM to 5 PM seven days a week.
https://ahconnects.org/wildlife/

Let Wildlife Be Wild

It’s a gift to witness nature so close to home, but sometimes the best way to help is to do nothing at all. Let the bunnies stay, and with a little luck, you’ll see them hop off on their own in just a few weeks. If you have any questions, be sure to contact the experts about bunnies at Critters Pet Shop of South Elgin.