Found a young hare or wild rabbit – what to do?
What to do now
- Do not touch it, walk on, put your dog on a lead.
- If it sits in a dangerous spot – path, road, mown area: pick it up with a tuft of grass and put it in cover a few metres away.
- It needs help if it is injured, covered in flies, lying wet and cold, or a dog or cat has brought it in.
- Then put it in a box with a cloth, keep it quiet and dark and call a wildlife rescue centre or the police (110) – they will inform the local hunter.
Please do not
- Do not take it with you. Hares are game; taking possession of them is prohibited, even out of pity. You may only secure an injured animal for care and must report it immediately.
- Do not feed it, do not give milk: young hares tolerate almost nothing you have at home.
- Do not wait nearby. As long as people are there, the mother will not come.
Who helps
Wildlife rescue centres, the local hunter (reachable through the police) – or report the animal to us with its location.
Report an emergency Animal rescue near you
Frequent questions
Is it a hare or a rabbit?
Young hares lie alone above ground and have fur and open eyes. Wild rabbits are born naked and blind in a burrow; a baby rabbit lying in the open with closed eyes always needs help.
I have already touched the young hare or taken it with me.
Take it back to where you found it as quickly as possible, rub it with grass and leave. The mother will usually accept it again. If it was a while ago, report it to a wildlife rescue centre or to us via “Report an emergency”.
Related
This page gives general advice. It replaces neither a vet nor legal advice.
More guides
- Wild animal foundFound a wild animal – who helps?
- Finding an emergency vetEmergency vet – how to find one at night and at the weekend
- Hedgehog foundFound a hedgehog – what to do?
- Bird foundFound a young or injured bird – what to do?
- Dog foundFound a stray dog – what to do?
- Cat turned upA cat has turned up or been found – what to do?
- Pet run awayDog or cat has run away – what to do?
- Collision with wildlifeCollision with wildlife: deer or wild boar hit – what to do?
- Dog in a hot carDog in a hot car – what to do?
- Report animal crueltyReporting animal cruelty or neglect – how does it work?
- Poison bait foundFound poison bait – and what if the dog has already eaten some?
- Injured pigeonFound an injured pigeon – what to do?
- Fawn foundFound a fawn or young wild animal – what to do?
- Squirrel foundFound a squirrel – what to do?
- Bat foundFound a bat – what to do?
- Injured swan or duckFound an injured swan, duck or goose – what to do?
- Cat hit by a carCat hit by a car or found at the roadside – what to do?
- Abandoned animal foundFound an abandoned animal – what to do?
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