The Fox and the Hare

While we still stand the risk of freezing rain and snow, it is indeed spring. As a result our patient numbers are slowly climbing from the 20 or less a month we admit in the winter, now to one or even several a day! The phones too, are getting busier and, as usual this time of year, a number of the calls we get are regarding the same animals, questions and/or situations. Last week we got a number of calls about raccoons getting into mischief. We attributed that to increased numbers of them looking for nesting sites for the season. This week it seems that all of the phone calls are about cottontail rabbit nests or red fox dens.
Cottontail rabbits have a relatively short gestation period and they also reproduce several times from spring through fall. Thankfully for the parents, they also have a very short rearing period as well; most infant cottontails are old enough to be weaned, eating solid food, and on their own by about 4 to 6 weeks of age.

If you find a nest of baby cottontails in your yard, the best thing to do is to leave them be and enjoy their brief time of growth for the next couple of weeks because they will soon be old enough to venture out of the nest and will be gone. If the nest has already been or is in danger of being disturbed this is not a hopeless situation. Is your dog trying to get into the nest when you let her out during the day? Then try putting a milk crate, laundry basket or “breathable” container over the area during the day. Mom only comes by the nest to feed the babies at dusk and again at dawn so you can take the cover in with you at night and bring it back out first thing in the morning. Some people have also had good luck putting up a little garden fence or other type of barricade that the mother rabbit can fit through or under to get to the nest, but that their pets cannot get into. In any situation where a baby cottontail is injured always contact a rehabilitator to get them the care they need as soon as possible.



This basket-full of baby bunnies may be cute, but it is neither humane nor legal to try to keep them as pets. They need very specialized care if they are to stand a chance of surviving until they are big enough to be on their own.



Red foxes, are natural, native animals in this part of Wisconsin. They are also far enough along in their breeding season where many have young big enough to start venturing out of the den for the first time. Because they have such a persona about them, what most of the people we speak to don’t know is that they are very common animals in urban and suburban neighborhoods. These habitats have taken the place of many of the marshes, woods, and native grasslands that used to be home to these animals. As a result they have had to adapt in order to survive. In the case of the fox (among other animals including white tailed deer, raccoons, and squirrels) the less rural environments also provide a lot more resources which has made the transition much easier. Other than the rodents who are feasting underneath your bird feeder at night, the pears and apples falling from your neighbors tree, and the occasional sip out of someone’s fresh pond or nice clean pool, these animals would really rather not be in such close proximity to humans. This means that even if they are living underneath your neighbor’s shed, as long as they are given their space and you (as well as your pets) remain in yours any conflicts are unlikely.

If a fox is in your neighborhood and you are still concerned these are some of the things to keep in mind: If you have bird feeders, fallen fruit, pet food, food storage or any other potential food source in or around your yard, consider cleaning it up, changing it’s location away from the immediate area, or removing it altogether for a period of time. Less food means less reason for the foxes to venture into your yard. For those of us with pets, it is our responsibility to look out for them. Knowing that there is a fox in the neighborhood (because in many cases we don’t know) doesn’t increase their risk of being attacked. This is because statistics show that most attacks or injuries to domestic animals are more likely to occur through interaction with other domesticated animals versus a wild animal. Also, making noise whenever you go out, using a squirt gun filled with water, or putting flags or streamers in the yard periodically can all help to make your territory seem odd and scary therefore a place that no mother would want her young to visit.



Foxes, Coyotes and other predators often get a bad rap. These innocent little pups want nothing more than a nice mouse maybe with a fruit or vegetable on the side, a safe place to sleep and some occasional sunshine to bask in just like your family cat.

  If you have further questions always contact your nearest rehabilitator first. Even if someone from a local pet supply store is willing to sell you something to feed that cute baby bunny, it doesn't mean that you should. And even though your neighbor's father who grew up on a farm in Illinois tells you that every fox he saw growing up was rabid, it doesn't mean that these ones are.

Hope that helps, until next time...

“My Dog Found a Nest of Baby Bunnies”

In the last week I have heard this statement from nearly 40% of the calls that have come in to the Center. And it’s not a surprise. It’s spring and cottontails like residential yards; that means we get calls like this all summer long.

Cottontails, which is what native wild “bunnies” are called in this area, are rarely ever actually orphaned. Here are several reasons why people believe them to be orphaned and why they contact the Center.

• They haven’t witnessed the mother going to the nest.

- A mother cottontail tends to only visit her litter at dusk and at dawn. She especially won’t visit when she knows it isn’t safe. Beyond these feeding times she stays away and watches from a distance. There are several reasons for this, but we’ll leave that discussion for another day.

• The (insert type of family pet here) has gotten into the nest and/or children have discovered the infants. People believe that the mother will abandon the rabbits now that they smell like humans (and perhaps the dog as well).

- Once she has put the energy into creating a nest, giving birth and caring for those infants, it is highly unlikely that she will not return just because people have visited while she was away. The mother may be suspicious, but as long as the nest area remains safe and accessible at dusk and at dawn then she should continue to return.

- IF – an infant is injured, call a licensed rehabilitator as soon as possible; if it has severe injuries or it has been exposed to a cat it should be brought in as soon as possible so that it can get the medical help it needs.

If these small, helpless creatures can continue to receive care from their mother they stand the best chance of survival. Even the most experienced rehabilitators, no matter how hard thy try, can’t fully replicate the diet and care they would get in the wild. These sweet little creatures are actually old enough to be on their own by 4 weeks of age, so they will be moving on in a hurry and the area can be treated to discourage the mother from re-using it again.

If a pet in the yard is an issue, try putting a laundry basket or empty milk crate out during the day. Bring it inside in the evening so that the mother can access the nest at dusk and again at dawn, then bring it back out again in the morning. Some people have even had success by putting some tent stakes around the basket, or a big rock on top to keep it in place. If this isn’t enough perhaps a small garden fence or temporary fencing will keep pets out during the daytime hours.

Once the nest is repaired:
· Replace the dried grasses, twigs and hair that were protecting the creatures inside.
· Place a string in a pattern over the top of these materials (I prefer a spiral pattern myself).
· Monitor the area daily to determine if the pattern has been disturbed due to the mother tending to the nest.

If you still have questions contact a rehabilitator or wildlife specialist. Do not feed infant cottontails; you can cause more harm than good and they can very easily become over-stressed if handled too much and feeding an improper diet can make things even worse.

Cat versus Cottontail

A Rabbit was lying in the backyard. It appeared as though the back legs weren’t properly working and it couldn’t get up on its own.

Unfortunately, this animal didn’t survive the night; the caller suspected that the neighbor’s cat had attacked it. We get many, many animals, especially baby birds, bunnies and other small rodents that are attacked by cats each year. Cat bites are very infectious and when anyone calls with animals caught by a cat, we always ask them to bring the animal in for treatment. Even though you may not see a bite wound, the little fangs of most cats can put some nasty bacteria into the flesh of its victim and these small punctures can seal up. We almost always start these patients on antibiotics immediately because within 24-48 hours fatal infections can develop. Some of these cats are feral, but most are pets. We always urge people to keep their cats indoors. Not only does it save the lives of wildlife, but indoor cats live much longer, healthier lives than outdoor cats. They aren’t exposed to cars, diseases, attacks from dogs or other cats, environmental toxins or a myriad of other accidents and dangers that can befall them, not the least of which is simply getting lost.

The Wildlife In Need Center does not deal with cats, even ones that are feral, as they are not considered wildlife. If you have questions or concerns about your own cat always contact your veterinarian. Your local humane society is the best place to contact if you have questions or concerns about feral cats in your neighborhood. Most of them also have spay/neuter release or other outdoor cat programs.