Safe and Healthy Foods to Feed Wild Rabbits in Your Yard

You see them hopping around at dawn or dusk—those wild rabbits with their twitching noses and fluffy tails. It's tempting to toss them a treat from your kitchen. I get it. I've spent years watching and, yes, occasionally supplementing the diet of the wild eastern cottontails in my own backyard, but only after doing a ton of research and learning from some hard lessons. The biggest mistake most people make isn't being cruel; it's being kind in the wrong way. Feeding a wild rabbit the wrong thing can do more harm than good, disrupting their sensitive digestive systems and making them dependent.

Why Feeding Wild Rabbits Requires Care

Let's be clear: wild rabbits are survival experts. Their primary diet consists of grasses, clover, wildflowers, and the bark and twigs of young trees in winter. Their digestive systems are finely tuned fermenting machines, designed to process high-fiber, low-sugar, and low-starch foods. Introducing rich, processed, or sugary human foods is like putting diesel in a gasoline engine—it will cause a breakdown.

I learned this the hard way years ago. A neighbor thought she was being nice by putting out stale bread and crackers for "the bunnies." We soon noticed the rabbits looked lethargic and their droppings were abnormal. A local wildlife rehabilitator we contacted explained that the high starch and low fiber in the bread can cause a potentially fatal condition called GI stasis, where their gut bacteria get out of whack and their digestion grinds to a halt. That was a wake-up call.

Beyond health, there's the dependency issue. Regular feeding can cause rabbits to lose their natural foraging skills and congregate in high numbers, increasing the risk of disease transmission and attracting predators to your yard. The goal isn't to make them pets, but to offer a supplemental, safe snack that doesn't replace their natural foraging, especially during harsh seasons.

A Simple Guide to What You Can (and Cannot) Feed

Think of their wild diet: fibrous, green, and simple. The best foods you can offer are fresh, plain, and pesticide-free. Here’s a breakdown I’ve compiled from veterinary and wildlife rehabilitation sources, like the House Rabbit Society and guidelines from state wildlife agencies.

Safe & Recommended Foods (The Green List)

These are excellent choices that align with a wild rabbit's nutritional needs. Always wash thoroughly and serve fresh.

Dangerous & Toxic Foods (The Red List)

This list is critical. Many common human foods and plants are toxic or harmful to rabbits.

Also, be aware of toxic plants in your yard. Rabbits usually avoid these instinctively, but if food is scarce, they might sample them. Common toxic plants include foxglove, lily of the valley, rhubarb leaves, and some species of ivy.

How to Feed Wild Rabbits Safely and Responsibly

It’s not just what you feed, but how and when. Here’s the method I’ve found works best to minimize disruption.

Timing is Everything: Rabbits are crepuscular—most active at dawn and dusk. Place food out in the late afternoon for evening foraging or very early in the morning. This reduces the chance of food sitting out all day, attracting insects or other unwanted animals.

Location, Location, Location: Don’t feed them on your porch or right by your back door. Choose a spot at the edge of your yard, near natural cover like bushes or a woodpile where they feel safe to eat and can quickly retreat. Scatter the food lightly over a small area rather than using a bowl. Bowls can concentrate waste and signal to predators that a rabbit will be in that exact spot.

The Right Amount: This isn't a buffet. A small handful of mixed greens and herbs per rabbit, plus an unlimited amount of hay, is more than sufficient. The idea is to supplement, not supply a full meal. Overfeeding leads to waste and dependency.

Water Source: In dry summer months or winter when water is frozen, providing a shallow dish of fresh water can be a lifesaver. Change it daily to prevent mosquito breeding.

When You Should Not Feed Wild Rabbits

Sometimes, the kindest action is inaction.

If you live in an area with a high density of predators (like foxes, coyotes, or free-roaming cats), feeding can draw rabbits into a dangerous zone. If your neighborhood uses pesticides or herbicides extensively on lawns, the rabbits may be ingesting poisoned greens; adding more food might not help.

Most importantly, do not feed if you see signs of illness—a rabbit that is out during the day, acting lethargic, not running away, or with visible wounds or discharge. Feeding a sick animal can worsen its condition and delay it seeking the varied diet it needs to recover. In this case, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Your Wild Rabbit Feeding Questions Answered

If I see a baby wild rabbit alone, should I feed it?

Almost certainly not. Mother rabbits leave their babies alone in shallow nests for most of the day to avoid attracting predators. The kits are not abandoned. If you attempt to feed them, you risk causing fatal digestive upset and ensuring the mother will reject them due to human scent. The best thing is to leave them alone. Only intervene if the baby is visibly injured, cold, or has been in the same spot for over 24 hours with no sign of the mother, and then call a rehabber immediately.

Can I feed wild rabbits apples or bananas as a treat?

You can, but it's a practice I generally discourage. Fruits are extremely high in sugar for rabbits. In the wild, they might rarely come across fallen fruit. A tiny piece (like a thumbnail-sized bit of apple without seeds, or a quarter-inch slice of banana) once a month at most is the absolute maximum. More than that risks digestive problems and teaches them to seek out sweet foods, which are nutritionally empty for them. Stick to greens and hay.

What’s the one food I can always safely put out for wild rabbits in winter?

Timothy hay. Without question. When snow covers the ground, their natural grasses and forbs are inaccessible. A pile of good-quality timothy hay provides the essential fiber their digestive systems need to keep moving. You can place it under a slight overhang or in a sheltered spot to keep it dry. It’s the most helpful and least risky supplement you can provide during cold months.

I accidentally fed a wild rabbit bread. What should I do?

Don't panic. One small incident is unlikely to cause major harm to a healthy adult rabbit. The problem is chronic feeding. Immediately stop offering bread or any other unsafe food. For the next few days, you can offer a small amount of their safe greens and plenty of fresh water to help their system flush through. Watch from a distance for signs of distress: no fecal droppings, sitting hunched up, or lack of movement. If you see these signs, a wildlife rehabber is your next call.

How do I stop feeding wild rabbits if they’ve become dependent?

Wean them off slowly. If you’ve been feeding daily, start by reducing the amount by half for a week. The next week, switch to only putting out a small pile of timothy hay every other day. Then, just hay twice a week. Finally, stop altogether. They will grumble and may hang around for a few days, but their natural foraging instincts are strong. They will return to finding their own food, especially if you have a yard with native plants, clover, and grasses.