Our Backyard Wildlife
Spring hasn't quite sprung yet, but observers of wildlife are noticing signs that our backyard buddies are getting spring fever. Squirrels are frolicking, chasing and tumbling with each other. Male cardinals have been singing their courting songs. We will soon be noticing birds carrying twigs and grasses in their beaks to nesting sites.
Another member of the backyard wildlife gang uses grasses for nest building - one of our favorite mammals, the Eastern Cottontail. Breeding starts as early as March and continues through September. Three or four litters per year produce an average of five or six bunnies each. After breeding, the female tells the male to "take a hike" while she takes on the role of motherhood.
The mom-to-be will dig a shallow depression in the earth, and line it with grass and dried leaves. She will then line the nest with soft fur from her body. A layer of grass and dried leaves over the top completes the nest and leaves it virtually hidden.
After her babies are born, Mom will visit the nest to feed them between dusk and dawn. She will gently paw at the grassy covering of the nest to expose her young. After nursing, she will cover the nest back up with grassy covering and leaves. She doesn't stay with the nest, but does stay nearby.
Bunnies have a very short childhood. Their eyes open at a week of age, and they start roaming from the nest at about two weeks of age. At that time, they start nibbling on nearby plants and will come back to the nest to sleep for a few nights. A bunny will then find its own den (called a form, in bunny language) to hide during the day. It's about this same time that Mom starts thinking about her next batch of babies.
So many times rehabbers have heard, "I chased this little bunny for an hour all over my back yard. I'm so glad I finally caught him to bring to you." Well, think about it, the little guy was on his own - he wasn't orphaned and didn't need to be rescued! It's a wonder he didn't die from fright.
If, however, your dog brings to you a nestling bunny, watch the dog to see if it goes back to the nest. If it does, put the bunny back into the nest, cover the nest with its grassy covering, then lay two pieces of string in the shape of an X across the nest. The next day go back to the nest, and you will probably see that the X has been disturbed-meaning that mom came back to feed her babies during the night. She usually will not abandon her babies. You will have to keep your dog away for a week or more.
A baby bunny that has been caught by the cat and has wounds will need to be taken to a rehabber. That bunny will need a course of antibiotics to ward off a virus that is present in the cat's saliva.
Sometimes, though, if mom is killed, the babies will get hungry and will stray from the nest looking for her, even while their eyes are still closed. This is a common occurrence with all wildlife. If this is the case, the babies need to be rescued. That is why it is so important to use the X method on a rabbit nest - to make sure the rabbits are orphaned. Rehabbers often have a difficult time raising bunnies.
So, the next time you see a tiny bunny nibbling on clover in your back yard, sit back and enjoy the show instead of worrying about the little guy.