I have received numerous calls, inquiries through email, and curious questions from friends and neighbors about why there are so many eastern cottontail rabbits this year. My own backyard observations and walks through my neighborhood have left me reflecting on the same question. Where once I saw a bunny or two as I walked around (and I spend more time outside than the average person given the nature of my job), I now see multiple bunnies daily in my backyard and can return from a walk seeing more than 2 dozen. The question is: are there more bunnies this year than last?
Some might point to the lack of big predators in our area or less traffic during the pandemic. BUT the real reason is right up my alley: It’s just Mother Nature.
The rabbit population, like many things in nature, is cyclical. There are boom and bust years based on environmental conditions. When conditions are right, rabbits can breed several times in one season, resulting in a potential proliferation of rabbits.
There are a lot of factors that contribute to a “boom and bust” rabbit population:
- The Availability of Food. There has been an abundance of food available for animals this year. With more people staying home, gardens, planting, and yard landscaping have proliferated, providing plentiful food sources for rabbits. The abundance and early availability of food due to the relatively mild winter led to increased reproductive productivity.
- Environmental Conditions. Baby bunnies (also called kittens) spend their first couple of weeks in a nest in the grass. Hypothermia can kill a lot of young bunnies, so less yard flooding is good for young bunnies.
- Increased Reproduction. In a normal year, only 15% to 20% of bunnies reach adulthood. This is one of the many reasons rabbits breed so prolifically. One rabbit can breed up to seven times in one year (with the season being January or February through September), and they may have anywhere from five to 12 bunnies (or kittens) per litter. A female bunny reaches sexual maturity at 2-3 months, so a bunny born in an early littler can go on to produce a couple of litters of kittens. If survivability rates fluctuate up, even a little, it can end up looking like a lot more bunnies!
- We’re More Aware. Covid has changed the patterns of many of our lives. We are home more, in nature more, and noticing wildlife much more. Rabbits enjoy being close to humans; we serve as a shield from larger animal predators. A lot of predators avoid humans, so high prey species like rabbits and squirrels live close to us, not only for the food but for protection.
So, if it seems like there are more observable rabbits this year, it may be because environmental conditions were just right this year, or it may be that you are more aware and engaged with your surroundings. This is one of the many lessons we try to foster at Sheldrake—that nature is all around us, curiosity should be encouraged and fostered, and we should all respect the natural world around us.
Best,
Jennifer
Jennifer Keefe
Executive Director
Sheldrake Environmental Center
FAQs
The overall drop in rabbit numbers since the late 1960's can be generally attributed to habitat loss because of land use changes and cleaner agricultural practices. However, recent years have seen a nice increase in the number of rabbits observed.
Why is there an abundance of rabbits this year? ›
The Availability of Food.
With more people staying home, gardens, planting, and yard landscaping have proliferated, providing plentiful food sources for rabbits.
Why am I seeing so many rabbits this year? ›
If conditions are ideal, rabbits can breed multiple times in one season, and the animals typically go through boom and bust periods, according to experts. Conditions that could contribute to a growing population include: Less rain water in yards, meaning fewer bunnies in nests getting wet and dying from hypothermia.
Why are there so many rabbits this summer? ›
If you live in an urban setting, you may not have seen or heard of any predators of rabbits. These pests don't have any natural predators, which is why they can multiply at an alarming rate. Female rabbits, for example, only need to give birth to two litters a year for the population to multiply quickly.
What animal population is decreasing the most? ›
Freshwater species populations have seen the greatest overall global decline (83%), and within this species group, on average, monitored migratory fish populations have declined by 76% between 1970 and 2016 globally, but as much as 93% in Europe, making our continent the most affected.
What state raises the most rabbits? ›
In Pennsylvania, 298 farms sold more than 112,000 rabbits, making it the top producer nationally.
Why are there so many rabbits this year in 2024? ›
Well, it has to do with the food chain. If there are fewer predators, cottontail rabbits — the grayish little city rabbits seen in parks and yards and trails — will have more opportunities to thrive.
Is it good to have bunnies in your yard? ›
Rabbits aren't just important prey for other species; they also provide natural fertilizer and can even be seed dispersers of rare plants, notes Deborah Robbins Millman, director of outreach for the HSUS-affiliated South Florida Wildlife Center.
What draws rabbits to your yard? ›
Growing veggies too low to the ground can easily attract rabbits and provide easy access to your crop. “If you are growing directly in the ground and are experiencing a lot of rabbit damage to your plants, you may want to build a raised bed at least 2' tall to garden in,” Mercer says.
What do rabbits in your yard mean? ›
In the fertile fields of symbolism, the rabbit symbolizes the abundant potential for growth and creation. Just as the earth awakens in spring, teeming with life, the rabbit's presence reminds us of the fertility within our souls, offering a reminder of the infinite possibilities that lie before us.
Some rabbits will continue to reuse a nesting spot if the conditions are favorable, whereas others will choose to rebuild a new nest each time. Several factors that may encourage rabbits to keep nesting in your yard include: The length of your grass. Keeping your grass cut short will discourage rabbit nesting.
Are rabbits becoming endangered? ›
In 2013, researchers found that more than two-thirds of rabbit species were already threatened by climate change. Since then, the number of species that are endangered or critically endangered has risen from 13 to 16 on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. The rabbits need our help.
Why did the rabbit population decrease? ›
Other causes of death include inclement weather, vehicle collisions and disease. Industrialized farming and forestry, removal of non-native plants, and invasive grasses have also contributed to the decline in rabbit populations.
Why are rabbit numbers declining? ›
In the past decades a highly infectious disease called Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) has swept across the rabbit population. It is fatal to both wild and domestic rabbits although pet owners can rest easy as vaccines are available. However, any idea of inoculating the wild population is a non-starter.
Did rabbits almost go extinct? ›
“Rabbits” are not a species, they are a family containing around 60 distinct species. Many of these species are under threat of extinction, although the most common American rabbits, Cottontails (which includes around 20 species in the genus Sylvilagus) do not appear to be under any threat of extinction.
