Cottontail Kits
Spring baby season is kicking off early this year at Tucson Wildlife Center, with 12 orphaned cottontail kits currently in our care. Our wildlife care team are working tirelessly to ensure that every baby receives the care and attention they need to thrive. We are asking your help in preventing avoidable orphaning by remembering that not every baby found alone needs to be rescued.
Mother cottontails only visit the nest about twice a day—usually at dawn and dusk. She purposefully stays away to avoid drawing predators to her kits. Seeing no adult near the nest during the day is normal, and unnecessary rescue can separate healthy babies from their mother.
To check whether mom is still caring for the nest, you can use a simple “twig test.” Lightly place a few small twigs in a loose crisscross pattern over the nest opening and then leave the area completely undisturbed overnight. If the twigs are moved by morning, that is a good sign mom came back to feed.
If the nest is in your yard and your pet dogs are bothering the area, you can temporarily place an upside-down laundry basket over the nest, weighing it down by placing a couple of rocks or bricks on top. Be sure to remove the basket when the dogs are indoors so the mother has easy, unobstructed access.
If you find a cottontail kit (or other baby animal) in an unsafe location or if it appears sick or injured, call TWC for advice before intervening. Taking photos and making notes about what you are observing will help us determine next steps.
If you would like to help patients like these cottontail kits, click this link to donate,
Another way you can contribute is to visit our “wish list” on Amazon or Chewy below:
We appreciate it, as will all the wild animals in our care!
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Show your support with a minimum $25 donation and we’ll send you a “KEEP TUCSON WILD” sticker. Click the bumper sticker to donate.