The birds have begun chirping, the flowers are blooming and springtime showers are falling. As spring continues rolling in, bunny nest season is upon us. April means birthing season for rabbits, and nests are popping up in backyards across Ohio.
Bunny nests are small holes dug into the ground and then covered with grass, leaves, and other plant materials. The nest often looks like a dead patch of grass in your yard.
Now that you know what to look for, here are some safety and preservation tips:
- Check your yard for any nests before mowing your lawn or doing any yardwork.
- Leave uninjured babies in the nest, it’s always best to leave animals be.
- If the nest is damaged, it is okay to help rebuild by placing the grass, fur, and leaf materials back over the hole.
- Do not move the nest. Moms rely on GPS via her head to locate the nest, not scent or sight. If the babies are moved even a couple of inches, their mom will not be able to find them.
- Keep pets away from the nest.
- Cover the nest with an upside-down wheelbarrow. Leave a 2-½ inch gap between the wheelbarrow and the ground for the mother to enter.
- Place ½ of a dog or cat kennel over the nest and weigh it down.
- If you can’t cover the hole, keep pets out of the yard until the babies become independent. Keep cats inside and dogs on a leash. Babies leave the nest between 21 and 28 days of age.
For more information on rabbit nests you can visit Operation Wildlife’s website. For more local tips and wildlife resources be sure to search on your city’s.gov webpage or visit the Ohio Wildlife Center’s Found an Animal webpage. — Erin Daehler