Massachusetts Wildlife Center Sees ‘Earliest Litter’ of Bunnies Ever

Has spring already sprung?

The New England Wildlife Center is not yet ready for it — but apparently, one family of Massachusetts bunnies already is, despite a quick freeze amid one of the warmest winters in recent memory.

In a Sunday afternoon Facebook post, the center noted that although it was six degrees below zero on Saturday, at least one rabbit couple had gotten spring started early.

A Massachusetts resident found a nest of baby bunnies with her dog over the weekend in what the center called "the earliest litter of rabbit kits we have ever seen at our hospitals."

Get our free mobile app

Unfortunately, only one baby rabbit survived Saturday's extreme cold — and what the NEWC said was likely a non-dog-related predator attack.

"This little fellow was the lone survivor of the bunch," the center wrote under a photo of the tiny bunny. "Despite his ordeal he is doing quite well."

The rascally rabbit has been warmed up and hydrated and is "now full of energy," according to the NEWC.

They plan on keeping the baby until he grows old enough to survive on his own.

Due to his early start in life, the center noted, he has gotten ahead of the competition, and "may even be old enough to have a litter of his own" by summer's end.

The NEWC reminded Massachusetts residents to look out for other early babies and any wildlife struggling in the cold.

"It goes to show you never know what surprises nature has in store," the center wrote.