What to Do If You Find Baby Bunnies in Your Yard, According to Wildlife Experts

Seeing rabbits hop around your yard is one of the more adorable signs that spring is on the way. But what do you do if you find a nest of baby bunnies with no mother in sight? While your initial instinct may be to intervene, wildlife experts warn that in most cases, disrupting the nest by moving the babies, trying to feed them, or returning often to check on them is more harmful than helpful.

Ahead, wildlife experts explain how to identify bunnies that need help and those that can be left to fend for themselves; how to protect baby bunnies in an emergency; and how to get help from a professional wildlife rehabilitator.

Look for a Nest

While you might assume that rabbits' nests would be well-hidden, the opposite is often true. "Rabbits nest directly on the ground, often in the middle of lawns, gardens, and landscaped areas," says Braelei Hardt, naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. "This surprises most people, but it's intentional. Mother rabbits choose to nest in open, visible locations because approaching predators are easier to spot."

The nests are shallow dugouts, layered and covered over with dried leaves, grasses, and the mother rabbit's hair—easy to stumble across while mowing your lawn or for your dog to uncover accidentally. "It's worth noting upfront: finding a nest of baby bunnies in your yard is extremely common in spring and early summer," says Hardt. "It doesn't necessarily mean anything has gone wrong."

Don't Expect to Find the Mother

Rabbits' nests are often easy to spot, but the mother rabbit is much harder to see. "She does not stay at the nest; the babies are left alone," says Leah Stallings, executive director of Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center.

This sounds like negligent parenting, but it's intentional. Baby bunnies have no scent and are completely concealed unless they are accidentally uncovered, meaning the size and scent of an adult rabbit are more likely to attract the attention of backyard predators. "The mother rabbit returns to the nest in the early morning hours to nurse her young. She then leaves the nest but is usually in the area hidden from view," says Stallings. "She returns in the evening to care for her babies and again leaves them alone for the night—you should rarely, if ever, see the mother."

If you find a nest that looks intact and no bunnies appear injured, leave it alone. "An unattended nest is not a reason to intervene," says Stallings. "If you accidentally uncover a nest of baby rabbits, simply re-cover the nest with available material, and the mother will return. She will fix the nest up to her liking and continue to care for the babies.

Look for Signs of Feeding Activity

If you have reason to believe the mother rabbit may be injured or dead or that the nest is abandoned, you can watch for signs of feeding activity overnight. "The best tool is what wildlife rehabilitators call the 'string test,'" says Hardt. "Place two thin strings or pieces of yarn in a tic-tac-toe pattern across the top of the nest opening, and leave the area alone for 24 hours. If the strings are disturbed in the morning, the mother has been there. If they're completely undisturbed, that's a sign she may not be returning." Stallings adds that you can look for a "milk-line" on infant bunnies, a bright pink section of the stomach that indicates a full belly.

You might also find a nest of bunnies old enough to find food without their mother. "The babies grow quickly, and by about three weeks of age, they are weaned and ready to be on their own," says Stallings. Their small stature—about the size of a tennis ball—makes them look too little for life outside the nest, but if they are fully covered in hair, have their eyes open, and are hopping around, they are most likely prepared to take care of themselves—no need for you to intervene.

Protect the Nest From Your Pets

A family of healthy baby bunnies can still be put at risk by curious cats and dogs—especially once your own scent leads your pet to the nest. If you need to protect a nest of baby bunnies from your pet, the best solution is to cover the nest with an upside-down laundry basket or wheelbarrow. "You can get creative here, as long as the mother has access," says Stallings. Leave a gap for the mother to get under at night, or Hardt says to remove the cover from dusk until dawn to allow the mother rabbit access for both feedings. "Keep dogs and cats indoors or supervised in the yard until the bunnies are old enough to leave the nest, which typically takes about three weeks from birth," says Hardt.

A mother rabbit won't reject a nest with human scent on it, but you should only touch or move the babies as an absolute last resort. "As a rule, do not move bunnies unless they are in immediate danger," says Hardt. "Mother rabbits locate their young primarily by smell and will return to a disturbed nest as long as the young are nearby. If the nest must be relocated, move it as short a distance as possible (a few feet, not across the yard) and try to maintain the same orientation and materials. Place a thin layer of dirt and grass over it to preserve the scent environment."

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What to Do If You Find a Bunny Outside Its Nest

Finding a lone bunny away from its brothers and sisters is a less straightforward situation than finding several curled up together and protected in the nest. You could be seeing a growing bunny on one of its first forays out alone, or a younger, unweaned bunny removed by a predator. "Young cottontails do explore briefly even before full independence, and a single bunny that appears alert, is hopping normally, and is fully furred is likely fine," says Hardt. "A single very young bunny (eyes closed, sparse fur, smaller than a tennis ball) found alone outside a nest is a more urgent situation and warrants a call to a wildlife rehabilitator."

If you find a solo bunny and are aware of immediate danger—like a nearby animal—you can gently move it; again, this is only during an emergency. "If you are concerned about an imminent threat such as a stalking cat or a dog in the yard, put on a gardening glove and move the youngster out of harm’s way," says Stallings. "The best place is under a low-hanging bush nearby and just out of sight. Don’t handle any more than necessary, as rabbits are very fragile and scared. They can literally die from fright, and humans are very big and scary."

When to Call a Wildlife Rehabilitator

Wildlife rehabilitators can be brought in to care for baby bunnies that require expert attention, such as those who are visibly injured, unresponsive, uncoordinated, found by a destroyed nest, have been attacked, are swarmed by flies or covered in fly eggs, or are crying continuously.

If you've performed a string test and didn't see evidence of the mother's return, or if you know for sure the mother is dead, a wildlife expert can also weigh in. "Many rehabilitators will advise over the phone first to help assess whether intervention is actually needed," says Hardt. "When calling, have the following ready: where you found the bunny and under what circumstances, an estimate of size and age (eyes open or closed, fur coverage), any visible injuries, and whether the nest is intact."

If asked to transport the bunny yourself, use a cardboard box with air holes, lined with a soft cloth. Wrap a warm water bottle in a cloth and place it in the box beneath a cloth lining on one side so the bunny can self-regulate its temperature. Keep the box in a quiet, dark, warm location and handle it as little as possible, Hardt says.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

People who find baby bunnies may inadvertently harm the animals by making these common mistakes, say the experts:

Feeding the Bunny

Providing infant bunnies with food does more harm than good, say the experts. "Feeding baby rabbits is actually one of the most common ways people accidentally kill them," says Hardt. "Rabbits have extremely sensitive digestive systems, and the wrong food, or even the right food given incorrectly, can cause fatal gastrointestinal distress."

Wildlife rehabilitators will have the correct formulas and techniques for providing nutrition if required. "Cow's milk is particularly dangerous and must never be given. Even well-intentioned attempts to hydrate a bunny with water via syringe can result in aspiration and death," says Hardt. "If a bunny is genuinely orphaned and in the care of a wildlife rehabilitator, they will use a specialized rabbit milk replacer at precise temperatures and intervals. This is not something readers should attempt at home."

Holding or Petting the Bunny

Baby bunnies are undeniably adorable, but it's dangerous to treat them like pets you can cuddle. "One of the most common mistakes people make when they rescue baby bunnies is to hold them and stroke them in order to 'comfort' them," says Stallings. "This is not a comfort and will likely result in a baby that is terribly traumatized. They can even suffer a heart attack and die from too much handling."

Older rabbits should also be left alone except in cases of extreme need. "Adult and adolescent rabbits are considerably stronger and more capable of injuring themselves in a panic if handled, so take extra care if handling is necessary," says Hardt. "A lightweight towel placed gently over the rabbit before picking it up can reduce visual stimulation and struggling, [but] any rabbit that is approachable enough to be caught by hand is likely significantly compromised."

Checking the Nest Too Frequently

Resist the temptation to go back to the nest and check on the babies' progress. "Avoid returning repeatedly, as your scent could draw a predator to the nest," says Stallings.

Keeping the Bunnies As Pets

It's illegal to keep wild animals as pets, but it's also dangerous for the bunnies. "Wild cottontails are not domesticated rabbits. They are chronically, acutely stressed by captivity, human proximity, and handling, which can cause fatal cardiac events," says Hardt. "Even bunnies that survive to release often have impaired survival skills. The kindest thing readers can do is minimize their involvement, get the animal to a professional, and let the rehabilitator determine the outcome."

Blocking the Bunnies From Predators

Human instinct is typically to protect baby bunnies from all predatory animals, but focus your efforts on pets—not other wildlife. "Not every predator interaction is something readers should try to prevent. Young cottontails are a critical food source for red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, foxes, and coyotes, many of which are raising their own young," says Hardt. "The guidance above is aimed at keeping domestic animals from unnecessarily disrupting nests, not at turning your yard into a fortress against other wildlife. A hawk taking a rabbit from your yard is not a malfunction; it's the system working as intended."