Dear Cathy,
In my daily walks in my neighborhood, I’ve noticed an increase in the number of wild rabbits. They are especially numerous early mornings and evenings. Is there an explanation for the rise in their population?
— Andy, East Northport, New York
Dear Andy,
I checked with Volunteers for Wildlife in Locust Valley, New York. They are unaware of any large population boom of rabbits on Long Island. As prey animals, the population of rabbits in a certain area is in flux with the number of predators in that area. They say you are likely in an area that is hospitable to wild rabbits, providing an abundance of grass and clover, places to hide, and few natural predators.
The most common time to see wild rabbits is in the morning and evening, so enjoy!
Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal
