Despite an assortment of snarled tug ropes, mud-caked tennis balls, and shredded remains of squeaky toys, dog owners face decent odds of making another backyard discovery shortly after the spring thaw: bunny nests.

(Or perhaps Duke or Bella previously sniffed one out and chaos followed?)

Whatever the case, you’ve got temporary residents “just for a couple weeks,” says Renee Oakley, facility manager of the Fox Valley Park District’s Red Oak property in North Aurora. “The bunnies’ mission is to get out as quickly as possible, become adults and move on. Their nest is where they’re most vulnerable.”

Nests, which typically house 5-8 baby rabbits or “kits” per litter, appear as a shallow depression in the ground beneath messy mounds of grass; they’re often lined with soft plant material and tufts of mom’s fur. Homes with fenced-in yards provide a desired habitat for an expectant mom’s litter due to the “safe” border, no matter the schnauzer or St. Bernard patrolling inside.

Oakley and fellow naturalist Christy Graser field regular calls to the Nature Center this time of year, sometimes with frantic voices on the other end of the line. Should you discover a nest, consider these tips to give those bunnies their best chance at survival:

  • Avoid relocating the nest if possible.
  • Protect the area with chicken wire or create a makeshift “shelter” using large rocks and plywood, boards, or sticks. “Just be sure to leave an opening for mom,” Graser says. “She’ll be back to check in and feed her babies a couple times a day.”
  • Nourishing the babies is mom’s job. “Do not feed them, do not give them water,” Oakley says. “Let nature take its course. Just because mom’s not hanging out with them doesn’t mean she’s not watching out for them. Hanging out can attract predators.”
  • Young bunnies are generally ready to explore the world on their own in just a couple of weeks when their eyes open, ears perk, and they grow to around five inches in length.
  • If you spot the makings of a nest, it’s OK to deter mom from continuing the build by filling the depressed area with rocks, or sprinkling the perimeter with noxious but harmless liquid, such as vinegar.
  • The gestation period for cottontails is just 28 days, and rabbits can become pregnant hours after giving birth. (In other words, you may not be empty-nesters for long after that first family moves out.)

Lastly, worst-case scenario:

“If you happen to find a destroyed nest, know you’re not at fault,” Oakley says. “You’re simply observing the food chain in its most natural, raw state. Something to understand is sometimes a rabbit’s purpose is to nourish and lengthen another animal’s lifecycle. There are things that happen in the wild that might give us humans reason to cringe, but the reality is it’s just a part of nature.”

Questions regarding backyard rabbit nests? Call Red Oak Nature Center at 630-897-1808 and staff will be happy to assist. However, please know Red Oak is not a licensed wildlife facility and does not take in injured or orphaned animals.