Springtime can be a hare-raising event! By Meredith Day Spring brought in the first new babies of the year. This year it was a nest of jackrabbits whose home was damaged when the field was being prepared for spring planting. I received the call the first Saturday of April from a rancher on Cienega road. It was a miracle they had even spotted these little guys they were so small. I have to compliment them on their quick reaction and careful containment of the babies. Often times a good job during rescue can help set the stage for a successful rehabilitation. Upon closer examination back at the Center I realized how new these little rabbits really were. The birth weight of jackrabbits has a lot of room for fluctuation depending on littler size and food supply. What gave me the most accurate idea of their age were the little umbilical cords they still had attached! The photo included with this article was taken the day after they arrived at the Center. They were about the size of a Haas avocado. The speed with which they have grown is truly amazing and their independent spirit is surely a blessing for busy jackrabbit mothers and busy rehabbers alike. Jack Rabbit facts: Did you know that jackrabbits are not actually rabbits, but rather members of the hare family? Instead of being born pink and naked with their eyes closed like a cottontail they are quite precocious little chaps that come into the world fully furred with their little brown eyes open to take in all the wonders around them right from the start. Adult jackrabbits can weigh up to eight pounds and their back feet can be as long as five inches. An adult female jackrabbits is larger and heavier than a male. Jackrabbits can jump up to twenty feet in a single bounce and reach speeds up to 35mph! Jackrabbits leave their mother and go out on their own after only one month of rearing.