Spring brings a surge in local wildlife populations: coyotes, foxes, deer and owls; and plentiful rabbits and hares. Ellicott Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Colorado cares for about 2,000 injured or sick animals annually ó which includes 400 to 500 rabbits.The common varieties of rabbits ó cottontails and the much larger jack rabbits ó breed in numbers relative to the size of their predator population. In other words, fewer predators signal an increase in rabbit sightings.According to lifescience.com, there is a difference between the hare and the rabbit. In general, rabbits are smaller than hares, and rabbits tend to live in areas with forests or shrubs, and dig underground burrows or make nests in small depressions in the ground. When they are born, rabbits eyes are closed and they donít have hair.ìIn contrast, hares do not burrow underground. They usually live in open areas, such as deserts or prairies, and have their young in simple nests on the ground.î Hares are born with fur and open eyes.Contrary to popular opinion, rabbits and hares rarely multiply in large numbers, unless circumstances permit it.ìThey really manage their own population with respect to the available resources,î said Donna Ralph, executive director of the wildlife center. ìKeep in mind that rabbits and every other species only reproduce the numbers that can be supported by the natural environment.îThe center often sees rabbits that have been hit by cars or attacked by other animals like cats. Because rabbits can wreak havoc with farmers and gardeners, they are often poisoned by humans.ìWe discourage poison in any form,î Ralph said. ìPeople put out d-CON, which is a blood thinner, and it kills just about everything. It doesnít break down in the environment, so we see a lot of beneficial species like hawks and owls in jeopardy.îMore passive environmental controls like hardware mesh or odor-based repellants are much better. Ralph said it is better to create a situation that does not appeal to the ìnuisance wildlife.î She cited a website ó http://urbanwildliferescue.com ó that offers ideas for ìhumane solutionsî to wildlife issues. Ralph is passionate about another issue that affects wildlife. People often purchase domestic breeds of rabbits this time of the year and then end up dumping the rabbits in public parks and other areas when they realize the cute, little Easter bunny is a huge responsibility. These rabbits are domestic and do not bode well in an unrestricted environment. Ralph said the center only takes wild rabbits and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region has only so much space; plus, they donít necessarily find the domestic rabbits before the animals meet their demise.ìItís one of our biggest problems Ö two to four weeks after Easter, when our phone is ringing with people finding these poor defenseless rabbits with no survival skills,î Ralph said. ìPeople get rid of them when they realize bunnies arenít cats.îEaster should be about chocolate bunnies only.In addition to wildlife rehabilitation, the center provides educational programs to the community. Education programs include information on handling wildlife. Ralph said the less contact with wildlife the better. Although it is largely a myth that animals will reject their young if humans have handled them, itís important to proceed with caution because many species harbor diseases that can be transmitted to people and pets alike.Also, Ralph said many times animals appear injured when they are not, and genetic factors are more common than most people realize. Animal parents reject their young for many different reasons, but it is often because theyíve sensed an issue with the offspring that cannot be corrected.ìFor us, itís a lot of education all the time,î Ralph said. ìBecause people just donít know. We live in an area full of people from other regions and parts of the country. So, even though weíre repeating ourselves all the time, we have a new audience all the time.îThe Ellicott center serves a vast area, from Pueblo to Boulder. They do take in wildlife and provide resources year-round. However, they are not funded by any agency and donations keep them afloat. ìWe need donations or weíre going to have to shut down. Without donations, we cannot provide these services, and weíre at a point right now where our donations are lower than theyíve ever been.îMarch marks the beginning of an eight-month increase in animal activity, which means the center at 23350 State Highway 94 in Ellicott, Colorado, could use community support.For more information and details on donating or volunteering, visit the centerís website at https://ellicottwildlife.com. Also, check out the Facebook page, where the center posts information and photos of their animals.
