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I Found a Baby COTTONTAIL and/or the Nest!

~Contributed by Prudence Martin-Koeninger

If you found the nest while working in your yard, do not disturb the babies. Mother cottontail is in the area; she has not abandoned her babies.
It is a myth that a mother cottontail will not accept her babies if you have touched them. Yes, she wants her babies! Put yourself in her position. Wouldn’t you want your baby back?
Cottontails are a prey species, the mother does not stay with her young because she does not want to draw predators to the nest.
Mother cottontails feed their young approximately two to three times within twelve hour timeframes at dawn and dusk which is their normal activity time.
Please review I Found a Baby Mammal - Now What? and How to Rescue Baby Mammals for additional information.
I know the mother is dead, I found her body, IMMEDIATELY gather babies and contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. See How to Rescue Baby Mammals.
DO NOT FEED BABY COTTONTAILS!!

How to re-nest or determine if baby cottontails are okay.

If the babies’ eyes are closed, the nest is intact, and babies look content, appear plump not lean, are warm to the touch and are snuggled next to each other sleeping, and there does not seem to be any danger; PLEASE re-cover the nest.
If in doubt of their condition, you can also double check their hydration by gently pinching the skin between their shoulder blades and releasing. If the skin returns to normal within a few seconds the baby is properly hydrated. If the skin remains in a ridge and does not promptly return then the baby is dehydrated. A dehydrated baby needs to be taken to a wildlife rehabilitator, contact a permitted rehabilitator IMMEDIATELY.
After re-covering the nest, apply string or yarn in an “X” shape and wait twelve hours to determine if mom is returning and feeding the babies. If after twelve hours the “X” is disturbed, double check to make sure babies still look content, plump, warm and are snuggling/sleeping. If the answer is yes then mom is taking care of the babies.
HOWEVER, if the babies look lean, are searching and moving around and are cold to the touch, gather babies and IMMEDIATELY contact a permitted rehabilitator.
If fire ants are present, gather babies and contact a permitted rehabilitator.
If babies appear to be injured contact a permitted rehabilitator.

My cat or dog found a nest of cottontails.

If the cottontail has been in the cat or dog’s mouth, IMMEDIATELY contact a permitted rehabilitator.
Please keep cats indoors when cottontail nests are present. Cats are responsible for injuries to hundreds of native wildlife each year; it is their instinct. Cats are actually safer indoors and in some cities there are leash laws regarding cats.
If the dog has discovered the nest, but has not harmed the babies, let your dog take his potty breaks either supervised or in a different yard to protect the nest from further intrusion. If it is a small breed dog and he must use the yard put a laundry basket over the nest with a weight on the top of the basket during the day. Remove the laundry basket at dusk and leave off until mid morning. This allows mother cottontail access to feed and a small breed dog his opportunity in the yard. Remember cottontails are on their own at 3-4 weeks.

How do I know if the cottontail is old enough to be on his own?

Once the baby cottontails emerge from the nest at 3-4 weeks of age, you may see them in your yard prior to the litter dispersing. A juvenile cottontail will be the size of an average fist or a tennis ball. If you are unsure the cottontail is okay, place it in a small box with a white paper towel in the bottom. Pull a dandelion or other grass clippings from your yard. DO NOT PUT CHEMICALLY TREATED PLANT MATERIAL IN THE BOX. Provide a bottle cap of water and keep the bunny overnight. If in the morning the vegetation has been eaten and the rabbit has defecated small pellets, the cottontail is okay and should be released in an area with plenty of brush and ground cover for camouflage.
IF the cottontail did not eat or defecate, the rabbit is not old enough to be on its own.
At 3-4 weeks of age cottontails may freeze in order to blend in with their surroundings. Their instincts may be telling them they cannot outrun the present danger/predator. Often this is when individuals capture young cottontails. Please refer to the above link “I Found a Baby Mammal”, and make appropriate decision. In most cases, this will be to return the cottontail to a safe environment.

Additional Information on Cottontails