We have both jackrabbits and cottontails in Placer County. Jackrabbits are “precocial”, meaning they are born fully furred with their eyes open. Cottontails are altricial, meaning they are born blind and hairless.
Jackrabbits:
The mother jackrabbit does not keep her young in a nest, rather she separates her litter to increase their chances of survival. She leaves them alone, other than to feed them 2-3 times a day. The baby’s main defense is to freeze, which is often mistaken for being calm. It is not calm, it is terrified, and can die from stress. Leave the baby hidden in grass, and its mother will return to the area and call to it to nurse.
Cottontails:
If the babies’ eyes are closed, the nest is intact, and babies look content, appear plump not lean, are warm to the touch and are snuggled next to each other sleeping, and there does not seem to be any danger; PLEASE re-cover the nest.
If in doubt of their condition, you can also double check their hydration by gently pinching the skin between their shoulder blades and releasing. If the skin returns to normal within a few seconds the baby is properly hydrated. If the skin remains in a ridge and does not promptly return then the baby is dehydrated. A dehydrated baby needs to be taken to a wildlife rehabilitator IMMEDIATELY.
After re-covering the nest, apply string or yarn in an “X” shape and wait twelve hours to determine if mom is returning and feeding the babies. If after twelve hours the “X” is disturbed, double check to make sure babies still look content, plump, warm and are snuggling/sleeping. If the answer is yes then mom is taking care of the babies.
HOWEVER, if the babies look lean, are searching and moving around and are cold to the touch, gather babies and IMMEDIATELY transport to our WIC.
If babies appear to be injured immediately transport to our WIC.