Learn · Safety
I found a baby wild rabbit — what do I do?
Almost always: leave the nest alone. A mother rabbit visits only briefly, usually around dawn and dusk, so babies found alone are usually not orphaned. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator promptly if the baby is injured, was caught by a cat or dog, has fly eggs, or is cold, wet, or crying nonstop. Do not feed it or try to raise it yourself.
Last reviewed September 12, 2026
- Why
- A mother rabbit visits the nest only briefly, usually around dawn and dusk — babies alone in a nest are usually fine.
- Watch for
- Injury, any cat or dog contact, fly eggs, or a baby that is cold, wet, or crying nonstop — contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator promptly.
- Note
- Not sure the mother is coming back? Watch from a distance, and if you are still unsure, call a licensed local wildlife rehabilitator or your state wildlife agency.
- Note
- Never feed or give water to a wild baby rabbit — call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator instead.
Sources
- Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine — Tufts Wildlife Clinic — What To Do If You Found a Sick or Injured Baby Rabbit · Main guidance page — "Mother rabbits spend more time with the babies from dusk till dawn"; grid test over the nest; "Do not give it food or water"; "illegal unless you have a proper state or federal permit" · accessed September 12, 2026 · CM-WILD-001, CM-WILD-002, CM-WILD-003, CM-WILD-004
- Wildlife Center of Virginia — If You Find a Baby Rabbit · Healthy young wildlife → If you find a baby rabbit — "feeds her young only twice a day—at dusk and dawn"; string grid over the nest; cat/dog mouth, fly eggs, "cold, wet, or crying nonstop"; "Do not give the baby food or water!"; "illegal unless you have a state permit"; "does not rely on scent" · accessed September 12, 2026 · CM-WILD-001, CM-WILD-002, CM-WILD-003, CM-WILD-004, CM-WILD-005
- House Rabbit Society — Wild Baby Bunnies: Are They Orphaned? · Care → Orphaned wild rabbits — "usually returns twice a day to feed"; grid test over the nest; home care "can be illegal, unnecessary, and potentially harmful"; put healthy babies back · accessed September 12, 2026 · CM-WILD-001, CM-WILD-002, CM-WILD-003, CM-WILD-004, CM-WILD-005
Going deeper
Why an 'abandoned' nest almost never is
A mother rabbit feeds her babies only about twice a day, around dawn and dusk, and spends the rest of her time away from the nest. Finding babies alone does not mean they are orphaned — it is how a healthy nest normally looks.
If you are not sure the mother is coming back
Watch from a distance — a mother rabbit stays away while people or pets are near the nest. Rehabilitators sometimes lay a loose grid of string or twigs over the nest to see whether it has been moved; how long to wait before judging varies by source, so if you are unsure what you are seeing, contact a licensed local wildlife rehabilitator or your state wildlife agency rather than guessing.
If the nest was disturbed or a baby was handled
It is a myth that mother rabbits reject babies touched by humans. If you or a child has already picked one up, return it to the nest and step away — renesting handled babies is fine.
When to step in
Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator promptly if the baby is injured, was caught by a cat or dog, has fly eggs, or is cold, wet, or crying nonstop. Cat or dog contact always counts, even if the baby looks unhurt — infection risk is not visible.
Why you should never try to raise them yourself
Wild baby rabbits require specialized, licensed care. Do not feed or give them water; contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Wildlife-care laws vary by jurisdiction — raising a wild animal in captivity generally requires a state or federal permit. Your state wildlife agency can tell you the rules where you live and point you to a licensed rehabilitator near you.