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What Does a Rabbit Nest Look Like? Here’s How to Find Them

Rabbit Nest

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Dr. Paola Cuevas Photo

REVIEWED & FACT-CHECKED BY

Dr. Paola Cuevas

Veterinarian, MVZ

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Maybe you have lots of rabbits hopping through your yard, or maybe you’re just wondering how to spot a rabbit’s nest. They can be hard to find unless you know what you’re looking for!

We’re here to show you what a rabbit nest looks like and what you should do if you find one. That way, you can check your lawn for nests and avoid disturbing baby bunnies. Many people consider them country animals, but rabbits often build their nests in residential and suburban areas—possibly even in your backyard!

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How to Recognize a Rabbit Nest

Rabbit nests often look like patches of dead grass. Listen and watch for movement if you see straw-colored patches in your grass. You may also find leaves on top of the nest or tell-tale traces of rabbit fur.

To build her nest, the doe (mother rabbit) digs a small hole in the ground and covers it with leaves and grass. The babies (called kitts) are just below the plant covering and are not well protected from you or your lawnmower.

Rabbit babies in nest
Image Credit By: PxHere

How to Find a Rabbit Nest

Whether you’re trying to avoid mowing a rabbit nest when cutting your lawn or are just curious when out taking a stroll in the woods, learning how to find and identify a rabbit nest helps you avoid accidents and disturbing baby bunnies when out and about.

One of the most important things to remember when looking out for nests is to take a calm, quiet approach. We don’t want to stress the rabbits out. Take light steps, keep your voice low, and keep pets away from the area. If you’re out walking with your dog, avoid letting your dog near the rabbit nest, as they tend to sniff and dig new, interesting spots.

Rabbit nests aren’t the easiest to find as they’re typically very well-concealed despite being dug out in open spaces, so it takes a sharp eye to spot one. They’re shallow holes in the ground covered by leaves, grass, and fur to keep the babies out of sight of predators.

The grass may appear dry and brown, so a rabbit nest on your lawn could appear as a discolored patch. You’re more likely to spot a rabbit nest in nesting season, which falls between March and September.

If you happen upon a rabbit’s nest, you’re unlikely to see the mother. The mother leaves the nest to protect her babies from predators who may pick up on her scent. As for the babies, they don’t leave their nest until they’re about 2 weeks old and would likely be too frightened to do so if they sensed your presence.

Checking your lawn before mowing or raking and keeping an eye out for nests when walking in open, grassy spaces is highly recommended to help keep rabbits safe.

YouTube video

What Should You Do If You Find a Rabbit Nest?

If you find a rabbit’s nest, the best thing you can do is stay away from it. Mow around the nest, tell your family to be careful, and keep your pets away.

Never move the nest! If you move the babies, you risk hurting or traumatizing them, not to mention separating them from their mother. Mother rabbits typically don’t spend much time in the nest, but that doesn’t mean they’ve abandoned their babies! They return once or twice a day, usually at dawn and dusk, to feed and tend to the young ones.

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Final Thoughts

Don’t take matters into your own hands and move the nest. Rabbits, especially wild ones, are terrified of humans and can die from stress. If you’re unsure about the health and safety of the rabbits on your property, you’ll probably want to seek professional advice. A wildlife official can determine if the nest is in a dangerous place that threatens the lives of the rabbits.

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Featured Image Credit: Jerry Morse, Shutterstock

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2 Responses

  1. A rabbit spent the whole day digging in my yard. What ended up was a sort of small pouch like tunnel, behind what was dug is a lot of dirt. I went to look , not real close, but still the open pouch, no bunnies. Could the mom be coming back later to deliver them??

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