Helping Florida Wildlife

Baby rabbits (eyes closed and under 5 inches long) rarely wander out of their nests. Should you find one and the nesting site is known, return it to the nest with as little disturbance as possible. Mother rabbits will only tend to babies that are in the nest. Rabbit nests are shallow depressions lined with fur, usually found in tall grass. You may be able to find the nest by scouting around the grass and bushes in the general area where you found the baby.

Once you've placed the babies back in the nest you will need to make sure the mother is caring for them again. At least one hour before dusk or dawn, place a few long grass or straw blades in a cross-hatch pattern over the nest's opening. The mother comes to feed her babies only at these two times of day. Check the nest again a few hours after dark or sun-up. If the mother has returned to the nest, the grass blades will have been disturbed and the babies will have firm, rounded abdomens.

Once rabbits are about three to four weeks old (5 inches or longer), they begin to leave the nest and become self-sufficient. They are vulnerable to animal attack at this age and are frequently captured by well-meaning people who think they are too small to be on their own. Wild rabbits rarely survive captivity, and, if uninjured, should be released in the area where they were found immediately. Injured rabbits should be taken to the nearest wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Related Links:

Information regarding domestic rabbits
House Rabbit Society
Rabbit Rescue

24-hour helpline for information and referrals: (352) 371-4400.