Ever notice those dead patches of grass in your yard? You might think it’s your fertilizer killing the grass, or maybe that part didn’t get enough sunshine, or it could just be a plot of bugs or something.
In other words, you probably haven’t thought too much about what those are, and just mow right over it when you’re working on the lawn. But next time, try to avoid pushing a lawnmower over those patches, especially if you’re an animal lover!
It turns out that those dead patches could be the home to a bunch of baby rabbits burrowing. And if so, this is where baby rabbits stay for the first three weeks of their lives. The mama rabbit goes out each day in search of food and brings it back to feed her babies (which are called “kits”) once or twice a day.
If you ever do spot one of these holes, it’s best to just leave it alone and walk away it—e.g., don’t start digging to see the baby bunnies (even though that’s probably so hard not to, now that you know those cuties could be in there!).
And if you are mowing the lawn, carefully try to spare the patch. Lawn mowers can cause damage to these types of rabbit nests and can seriously hurt or even kill the babies! Try to keep any kids or pets away from the area as well. We’re definitely going to pay more attention to these homes next time we’re mowing the lawn!
If you’re curious or concerned at all if the mom is really coming back to feed the babies (there’s such a thing as abandoned bunnies), try putting some sticks on top of the dead patch of grass. If in at least Wikimedia Commons24 hours you come back and the sticks were moved, then rest assured, the mom is coming back with food.
If it hasn’t, then it’s not a bad idea to call a wildlife rescue in your area. Experts just don’t recommended handling the rabbits yourself if you’re not trained. The reason the mom only comes back so few times a day to feed her kits is because she doesn’t want to lead predators right to the nest.
But seriously, this could disrupt their feeding process. “Please just let them be,” says Jared Houliston of Ontario Wildlife Removal in Canada. “We know that they’re growing up, which means they’re getting fed.”
If you find rabbits in your garden however, that’s when we say take action. Rabbits are known to eat certain veggies and dig up bulbs, which can be super frustrating for gardeners. In this case, experts recommend growing your veggies in raised beds with fencing or netting around them.
Additionally, rabbits don’t like strong smells, including onions, garlic, and red pepper, so if you have any of those in your garden, you should be all set.
Lastly, if you’re worried your lawn is going to be permanently damaged, don’t be. Rabbits grow pretty quickly—it takes just a few short weeks before they’re fully grown and will leave. After that, repairing any lawn damage won’t take you too much time.
Have you ever seen one of these dead patches of grass in your yard? Did you know it could be the home of adorable little baby bunnies?