From the Facebook of: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Young cottontail rabbits may be some of spring’s cutest new arrivals, but their best chance for survival is in the wild. Please don’t pick them up or move them from their nest.

When people encounter a nest of baby cottontail rabbits, called kits, and don’t see an adult nearby, they often assume the nest has been abandoned or that something has happened to the mother. However, that is usually not the case.

Here are some important things to know about rabbits and their nests.
– Rabbits make a shallow depression in the ground and line it with grass and fur to serve as a nest.
– Rabbits do not sit on their nest like birds. To avoid attracting predators, the mother only visits the nest two or three times a day, usually at dawn and dusk, to nurse her young.
– Kits open their eyes at a week old and begin exploring outside the nest at about 2-3 weeks.
– A cottontail rabbit is capable of being on its own when it is about the size of a softball, with eyes open and the ability to hold its ears upright. This happens when it is around 4-5 weeks old.

Remember: a young wild animal’s best chance of survival is with its mother!
Cottontail rabbits have specialized dietary needs that are not easily met, so it is essential to contact the DNR or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for advice before intervening.

Learn more about what to do if you find a young wild animal on our Keep Wildlife Wild webpage:
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/orphan