Cottontail rabbits are independent by what age?

• A. 6 weeks
• B. 4 weeks
• C. 12 weeks
• D. 8 weeks

Answer: (B)

Cottontail rabbits become independent when they are about four weeks old. At birth they are highly dependent on their mother for warmth, milk, and safety. Over the next month they rapidly develop—their fur grows in, eyes open, they become mobile, and they start foraging on their own. By roughly four weeks they’re typically weaned and able to survive without maternal care, which is why four weeks is the standard age of independence. If you encounter a rabbit that appears clearly younger than that, it may still be dependent and should be left or handled only by a licensed rehabilitator; rabbits that are older and actively foraging are generally considered independent.