Rabbits and Hares
*Attention rabbit owners/handlers*
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV-2) is a deadly virus that has now been confirmed in Minnesota. If you have any contact with domestic rabbits please wear gloves while handling wild rabbits/hares and minimize contact as much as possible. Wash your hands very well and wash your clothes before handling domestic rabbits. More info here: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease | Cornell Wildlife Health Lab
If you believe you found an orphaned rabbit/hare please read this page and contact us so we can advise you. Please make sure that you properly identify if you have an Eastern Cottontail or a Snowshoe Hare as they are very different. If you aren’t sure send us a picture and we can identify it for you. We will discuss both species on this page.
If you found an injured/ill animal or KNOWN orphans please scroll to the bottom of this page for how to safely contain the animal(s).
Never handle wild animals without gloves. Use appropriate protective items and common sense.
Eastern Cottontails
Eastern Cottontails are completely dependent on their mom. The mother rabbit creates a shallow nest in the ground lined with her fur and covers it with leaves or grass. At birth the kits are naked, have their eyes closed and their ears are pinned down. As they age they originally develop sleek fur, then it becomes fluffy, their eyes open and their ears slowly become upright and open.
Cottontails are more common in urban areas and throughout most of Minnesota. They are more scarce in the northern third of the state.
Birth Completely naked, pink
5 to 6 days old Fully furred (not fluffy)
7-8 days old Ears up. Still in nest.
10 days old Eyes open. Still in nest.
12 to 14 days old Still nursing. Able to hop (leave the nest) and nibble on solids.
21-24 days old Completely weaned once the size of a softball.
Orphaned?
Below is a list of signs to determine if the young are orphaned and need to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator:
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If a kit has blood, an obvious injury, nasal discharge, or is sprawled out on its side it needs help.
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If a baby has flies, fly eggs (look like tiny grains of rice), fleas, many ticks, mange, etc. on it then it likely is orphaned and needs to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
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If there are bunnies trying to crawl out of the nest and they are unable to quickly hop away from you this is a sign that mom is likely gone and they are searching for her. See pictures above for aging.
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If a rabbit has been under human care or has been fed anything from a human caretaker it needs to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
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Healthy bunnies should be very warm and wiggly while in their nest. If a bunny is lying on its side it needs help.
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Younger babies are easy to check for dehydration. Gently pinch the skin over the shoulder blades. If it takes 2+ seconds to return to normal or stays tented, then the baby is dehydrated and likely orphaned.
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Cats create lacerations as well as tiny punctures that can seal over and create pockets that become infected.
Dogs create crushing injuries when they bite. Internal injuries may not present for a couple of days.
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We will instruct you how to look for this and need to confirm.
If the animal has an incredibly distended belly it likely needs medical attention. We will need to assess this to ensure it isn’t just a full milk belly. Please contact us.
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If it is known with certainty that mom has been killed or relocated then contact us. Seeing one dead rabbit does NOT mean that was the mother. Mother rabbits will have visible teats. If you are unsure about the mother please contact us and perform a string test.
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Please see below.
Don’t Be A Kidnapper!
Mom only visits the nest 2 times a day (at dawn and dusk) to nurse for a couple moments and then leaves. She leaves to avoid drawing attention to the babies.
Bunny nests cannot be relocated. The mother will not find them even if it’s only 1 foot away.
It only takes about 3 weeks for them to be self-sufficient. Once they are the size of a softball they are weaned and do not need mom.
If your dog has found a nest please place an upside down laundry hamper over the nest and stake it down while your dog is outside. Remove it when your dog is inside and overnight so mom can nurse the babies.
Babies will not be abandoned if they were touched by a human but please do not handle them unless instructed to do so by a permitted wildlife rehabber.
We do not take bunnies in just because they may be a “nuisance” to you. We have very limited resources and need to have space available for true orphans. They will be out of the nest in 3 weeks. Please be patient and kind.
The String Test
Since cottontail mothers only visit their nests twice a day, they are rarely seen with their babies. This method is an easy way to tell if mom is tending to them. If you have a trail camera you could set up that would be ideal. (We would love to see pictures!)
Please ensure that all of the babies are warm, wiggly, healthy and do not meet any of the orphan criteria above.
Take a quick picture or video of the kits.
Cover them up with the nesting material.
Place 4-6 strings or thin twigs in a hashtag formation over the nest.
Take another picture so you can compare the string placement tomorrow morning.
Mom will visit at dusk and dawn when there are no predators in sight (including you). After the sun rises tomorrow morning check the nest and babies. If the strings or twigs are moved, then mom is taking care of them. If it looks the same and the babies seem more lethargic, cold, are crawling out of the nest or any have died they need help. Contact us if you have any questions.
Snowshoe Hares
Snowshoe hares are precocial. Shortly after birth the leveret’s eyes open, they are able to hop around and will nibble on solids. They are very fluffy with large back feet and ears. They do not have a designated nest but will stay in their nesting area after they are born. Their mother does not stay with them to avoid drawing attention to them. She returns for short nursing sessions throughout the day.
In the winter, snowshoe hares turn white. They are more common in northern rural/forest areas.
3 days old
2 weeks old
4 weeks old
Below is a list of signs to determine if the young are orphaned and need to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator:
Orphaned?
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If a baby has flies, fly eggs (look like tiny grains of rice), fleas, many ticks, mange, etc. on it then it likely is orphaned and needs to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
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If a leveret has blood, an obvious injury, nasal discharge, or is sprawled out on its side it needs help.
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If a hare is lying on its side or seems very “dumpy” it needs help. If it is frozen in a position it is likely trying to hide from you. Contact us with questions.
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Cats create lacerations as well as tiny punctures that can seal over and create pockets that become infected.
Dogs create crushing injuries when they bite. Internal injuries may not present for a couple of days.
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Leverets will stay in their nesting area, but should be moving around.
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If it is known with certainty that mom has been killed or relocated then contact us. Seeing one dead hare does NOT mean that was the mother. Mother hares will have visible teats. If you are unsure about the mother please contact us.
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Gently pinch the skin over the shoulder blades. If it takes 2+ seconds to return to normal or stays tented, then the baby is dehydrated and likely orphaned.
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If a leveret has been away from its mother for 12+ hours or has been fed anything from a human caretaker it needs to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
Snowshoe hares are often stolen by well-meaning humans who think they are orphaned since they are rarely with their mother. Please do not take a leveret unless it meets the orphan criteria on this page and/or you have been instructed to do so by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
If you just found a leveret and do not think it is orphaned please put it back and leave it alone. You can keep an eye on it for 12-24 hours along with our guidance.
We do not take leverets in just because they may be a “nuisance” to you. We have very limited resources and need to have space available for true orphans. If you have a dog that is an issue with the leverets please leash walk your dog for a few weeks.
Don’t Be A Kidnapper!
Containing the Animal
If you believe that the rabbit/hare needs help, please contact us so we can discuss the situation with you and walk you through safely containing it/them. Your safety should be your top priority. If it safe to do so, please follow these steps to contain the animal:
Contact us so we can discuss the situation with you.
Get an appropriately sized box for the animal. You may also use a pet carrier or container as long as there are air holes poked in it before the animal is inside.
Put a towel or thin fleece blanket on the bottom of the box and another small piece of fabric for the animal to snuggle in. Please do not use large blankets.
Using gloves, use the hand towel to gently pick up or slide the rabbit/hare into the box. Place another small towel over the animal. If you are rescuing baby cottontails, please take as much nesting material as you can. This will greatly reduce their stress and help keep them warm.
*These species will kick to try to escape from you. Please support their rear legs and back as they can fracture their spine from kicking. They also have extremely thin skin that tears easily. This allows them to escape predators. Be gentle and cautious of any lacerations to prevent further damage.
Secure the lid well.
Put a heating pad underneath 1/3-1/2 of the box so the animal can move if it gets too hot. Make sure that it is on the lowest setting to prevent burns.
Warm water bottles, Hot Hands packs and warmed rice socks also work if you don’t have a heating pad. Do not place water bottles or Hot Hands packs inside the box with the animal.
Wash your hands.
Bring the animal to us immediately. If this is not an option, please try to find it a ride. In the meantime, put the box in a warm, dark, quiet area of your home or garage that is away from pets, children and noise.
DO NOT GIVE ANY FOOD OR LIQUIDS TO THE ANIMAL!
DO NOT hold, cuddle or talk to the animal. Keep away from pets.
If a rabbit/hare is “calm” in your presence it is a shock response. They do not like being held by a predator. This can be a sign that they may be near death. Limit exposure to humans and noise immediately.
Note: The information contained in this text regarding health and/or safety precautions may not be adequate for all individuals and/or situations. It is the reader’s obligation to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. We are not responsible for injuries occurred from you handling wild animals. Do so at your own risk. If you do not feel comfortable handling the animal do not handle it.