Rabbits: Coexisting with Wildlife
Background Information
- There are three species of rabbits and hares in San Diego: desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits and brush rabbits.
- 98% of the rabbits and hares we receive at Project Wildlife are desert cottontails.
- Rabbits and hares are very easily stressed and should never be petted. They should only be handled if absolutely necessary, and when handling is needed, contact with the rabbit or hare should be as minimal as possible, as extra handling can have terrible health consequences for the animal.
- Breeding occurs between December and May. During this period, a female usually has two to four litters with one to six babies per litter.
- Young rabbits are independent and will be on their own once their eyes are open, their ears are up and they are larger than the size of a tennis ball.
When does a rabbit need to come to Project Wildlife for care?
- Babies who are away from their nest with their eyes closed, ears down and/or are furless. Search nearby for a nest first! Click here for more information about possible renesting and reuniting information before bringing the baby to Project Wildlife.
- If they have been caught by a cat or dog.
- If the rabbit or hare is a sick or injured adult.
What to do if you find:
Baby Rabbits:
Desert cottontail nests are simply shallow dips in the ground lined with fur and grass. Mom will leave babies unattended in the nest while she looks for food, and she only feeds them twice a day around dusk and dawn. You probably will never see her, and this is completely normal. If the babies being alone is the only cause for concern, simply leave the area and let the mom do her thing. No monitoring or follow-up is needed.
If you moved a bunny, disturbed a nest or suspect the babies have been orphaned for another reason, please attempt to reunite them and monitor for healthy young unless mom is found deceased. Mom won’t abandon her babies simply because you touched them. However, she will not return if you are too close to the baby or nest since humans are perceived as threats.
Sometimes dogs and other predators find and damage nests, but if the babies are unharmed, you can salvage the nest and monitor as described in the “renesting” section of this Renesting and Reuniting resource. Keep your dog on a leash and cat indoors during bunny nesting season. Cottontails mature quickly and will be gone in less than a month.
You can prevent pet access to bunny nests by putting a temporary barrier, such as a laundry hamper, over the nest while your pet is in the yard. Just be sure to remove the barrier when you leave. Alternatively, you can leave some barriers in place permanently, such as wheelbarrows, wire fencing, hamper propped up on one side, etc., provided you leave a gap big enough for mom to enter and exit.
Coexisting with rabbits:
- Rabbits are rarely considered a great nuisance but may get into gardens and eat flowers and vegetables. Decorative rabbit-proof fencing is readily available at hardware stores.
- Bitter-tasting plants, such as marigolds, placed around the perimeter of the garden, may deter rabbits and other small animals from entering.