06/03/2026
Nothing ruins a bonfire quite like the screams of baby rabbits. 😭
Today's admissions include two baby cottontails who were discovered when a brush pile was set on fire.
Thankfully, these two little patients are eating well and seem determined to recover, despite suffering burns to their backs, heads, and tiny ears. ❤️🩹 They have a long road ahead, but they're fighters.
This is a heartbreaking reminder that brush piles that have been sitting for more than three days often become someone's home. Rabbits, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and countless other wildlife species seek shelter in brush piles throughout the year.
And yes—the three-day rule applies year-round. 🍂❄️🌱☀️ Brush piles don't stop being habitat when the weather turns cold. Many species overwinter in them, and those animals are often even less likely to escape a fire than they would be during warmer months.
Many people assume that animals will simply run out when the flames begin, but that's not true for many species—and it's certainly not true for babies. Young rabbits, birds, and other wildlife often freeze, hide, or are physically unable to escape. By the time they realize the danger, it may already be too late.
If you plan to burn brush, please do it responsibly.
The safest method is to start a small fire in a clear area adjacent to the pile and gradually transfer material to the flames one armload at a time. This gives you the opportunity to check for wildlife and helps prevent animals from being trapped and burned alive.
These two were lucky.
Most aren’t.
