Quote:
| When would be the best time to do this? I want for any baby bunnies to be old enough to leave on their own. I don't want to trap any animals underground or hurt them in any way. I want to take care of it before it gets too cold, because I want the rabbits to be able to make another home before the ground gets hard. Also, I have a Great Dane who loves to chase and kill rabbits. I'd like to give the rabbits as much of a chance as possible. How do I go about doing that? |
This is a bit of the "closing the barn door..." adage. There isn't really a "best" time to do this! They've established a nice little colony and it may be difficult to remove them.
As you can see, reading the information below, there will almost always be baby rabbits. Just when the first litter is ready to leave, the doe(s) will be birthing the next bunch. Those litter mates will begin mating and the cycle goes on and on.
Quote:
| ...We feel that it's time to cut down the overgrowth, rescue the fence, and fill in the hole. |
This may not be easy. But, it probably can be done. By clearing the overgrowth, it will eliminate cover for the rabbits. The disturbance of the area being cleared will be a big help in getting them to move along (for the time being). So, DO remove the above-ground cover. Do whatever you need to do to repair the area and the fence. Leave that area open and clear of planting and visible to predators.
Regarding your concerns about your Great Dane and playing "bunny fetch-&-kill", temporarily fence-off the area being cleared so that Marmaduke can't access the rabbit condo - OR - make it clear to the rabbits that there is a BIG predator is in their area: let the dog urinate a LOT in that area & encourage the dog to make that area a favorite resting spot (place some of the dog's dry food in a bowl, above where the rabbits could access it) and they should move away.
Personally, though I understand it would be distressful, I'd let the dog have at it. Instinct will tell the rabbits to leave an area with such a predator.
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed...loridanus.html
"...reproductive activity in the eastern cottontail is related to the onset of the adult molt. Sexual maturity occurs around 2 to 3 months. An
average of 25% of young are produced by juveniles ... Does are polyoestrus, with their first heat occurring in late February ... Does can have anywhere from 1 to 7 litters per year, but average 3 to 4. Gestation is typically between 25 and 28 days ... Litter size varies from 1 to 12 neonates with an average of 5. The newborns weigh 25 to 35 g, and are altricial; they are blind and naked. The young grow rapidly, initially about 2.5 g a day. Their eyes open around day 4 or 5, and they can leave the nest after about two weeks. The litter receives minimal care from their mother; they are nursed once or twice daily. Weaning occurs between 16 and 22 days. Litter mates become intolerant of each other and disperse at around seven weeks.
The doe mates soon after her first litter, and she is often near the end of gestation as the current litter is leaving the nest."
