JM they know where it is sort of safe & food is there. There are lots of places to hide like under the van, or porch or whatever. Predators may be reluctant to get that close to the house. I have a white pink eyed & chox rex feral living at my place now. They just showed up. The white one has been here for 5 years, amazing cause it really doesn't blend in. It did get crippled last spring from an encounter with something off property. I have rabbit food for them & they don't eat my plants anymore & give treats. They white one growls when you try to pet it (probably vulnerable cause of inability to run good) but the rex will let me. Those little cottontails sure are cute! I hand raised a batch of orpnaned ones long ago, they were so adorable! J.