A common question when finding a rabbit nest is whether mother rabbits can move their babies. Understanding their unique maternal behaviors helps clarify misconceptions and guides appropriate actions if a nest is discovered.
How Rabbits Care for Their Young
Mother rabbits exhibit a distinct, hands-off approach to caring for their young, known as kits. They do not stay with their litter in the nest for extended periods. This behavior protects the vulnerable kits, as the mother’s presence could attract predators. She visits the nest only once or twice daily, usually at dawn and dusk or overnight, for brief nursing sessions. These sessions last 5 to 10 minutes, but her rich milk provides sufficient nutrition for up to 24 hours.
The idea of a mother rabbit physically moving her entire litter is largely a misconception. Unlike cats or dogs, wild mother rabbits are not physically equipped to pick up and carry their babies in their mouths. If a kit is found outside the nest, it likely wiggled out, and the mother is unlikely to retrieve it. In rare emergencies, a mother might nudge a single baby a very short distance, but this is not a routine behavior for nest relocation.
When a Mother Might Relocate Her Babies
A mother rabbit might attempt to move one or more of her young only in exceedingly rare circumstances, signifying an immediate, severe threat. This is an emergency response when the nest’s viability is completely compromised, not a planned relocation. For instance, if a nest is destroyed, heavily disturbed, or flooded, a mother might try to move individual kits a very short distance to a safer spot nearby.
Mothers prefer to leave their young hidden and undisturbed rather than expose them by moving them. The primary strategy for rabbit survival is the selection of a well-concealed nest location, relying on camouflage and minimal visitation to protect the young. Any disturbance to the nest, even moving it a short distance, can lead to the mother abandoning it, as she relies on the original location for her mental “map” of the nest site.
What to Do if You Find a Rabbit Nest
If you discover a rabbit nest, the most important action is to leave it undisturbed. Mother rabbits intentionally stay away from the nest to avoid drawing attention to their young, so it is normal not to see the mother nearby. If you accidentally disturb a nest, gently return any displaced babies and cover them with the original nesting material, including the mother’s fur and dried grass. It is a myth that a mother rabbit will abandon her babies if they have been touched by humans.
To determine if the babies are orphaned, perform a “string test” or “flour test.” Place string or twigs in a tic-tac-toe pattern over the nest opening, or sprinkle a light layer of flour around it. Check the nest after 12 to 24 hours. If disturbed, it indicates the mother has returned to feed her young.
Avoid touching or attempting to feed the babies, as hand-raising them has a very low success rate. Contact a local wildlife rehabilitator only if there are clear signs of distress or abandonment:
Visibly injured babies
Babies that have been in a cat or dog’s mouth
Kits that are cold
Crying incessantly
Covered in insects
No maternal return after 24 hours, and babies appear thin and weak