One Thing Every Illinois Homeowner Must Do Before Firing Up The Lawnmower This Spring

Spring has finally arrived in Illinois, and soon we'll all be firing up the lawnmowers for the first time this season. When you go outdoors to prepare for your first mow, PLEASE make sure you check your yard for this one important thing, or you will be sorry.

A Tragic Rabbit Tale

This picture of my dog Brooks from 2 years ago still haunts me...especially in the spring.

I'm not going to share the gory details of this tragic tale, but I will tell you this; it does NOT involve a lawnmower, but it DOES involve a bunny nest that my dogs found before I did.

Never. Again.

 What Does a Rabbit Nest Look Like?

Rabbits love building nests in yards each Spring, but up until two years ago I never really knew what a rabbit nest looked like.

Here's what you need to be looking for so you don't have a disgusting bunny guts situation on your hands that makes you cry your eyes out...

What Should You Do When You Find a Rabbit Nest In Your Yard?

If you do find a rabbit nest in your yard this spring, rule #1 is: DON'T TOUCH IT!

An article from reconnectwithnature.org says;

If you have a rabbit nest in your yard, do not disturb it. People often think the babies have been abandoned, but the mother rabbit usually only visits the babies to nurse them twice a day — once in the morning and once in the evening.

Baby rabbits only stay in a nest for about three weeks, so it's temporary problem you need to deal with. To keep dogs and other animals out of a rabbit nest just place an upside-down laundry basket over the hole and then put a heavy brick on top of it. This should work for keeping other animals out of the nest, but still allow mama rabbit access to her babies. (Rabbits can get into/through very small spaces.)

How to Prevent Rabbits From Nesting In Your Yard

I'm not going to lie, keeping rabbits out of your yard is a near impossible mission, even if you have a fenced in yard. (Bunnies get under our wood fence all the time even though we have three dogs who like to chase them).

I believe the key to preventing rabbit nests is making your yard as unattractive to them as possible.

Yes, you can buy rabbit repellants sprays, etc. online and at home improvement stores, but there are a few natural things you can do in your yard too according to bobvila.com;

• Plant rabbit-resistant plants like zinnias, marigolds, snapdragons, and daylilies throughout your yard. (Bunnies don't like their smells).
• Keep your grass short and remove all brush and stick piles.
• Place gnomes or other figurines in your yard.
• Set up motion-activated sprinklers.

Please learn from my mistakes; check your yard for rabbit nests right away...or you'll be sorry.