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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Madison

As spring unfolds, baby bunnies are bouncing about — and they need your help! The 

Dane County Humane Society’s Wildlife Center

 as people are finding more nests filled with bunnies.

: DCHS wants to remind the public that just because their mother isn’t nearby doesn’t mean she’s not coming back for them. It’s normal for mama to leave the babies alone for most of the day to not attract predators, and then come back at dawn and dusk to feed them. So if you find a nest of these cuties in your backyard or nearby, don’t report them as abandoned.

 Eastern Cottontail kits are incredibly challenging to rehabilitate. Their best chances of survival are with their mothers. These wild kits are extremely sensitive to stress and require specialized formula and intensive care from licensed wildlife rehabilitators. DCHS has admitted over 130 cottontails this year alone.

Dogs, free-roaming cats, and human disturbance of nests are the most common threats. Here are the DCHS’s Wildlife Center’s tips on how to keep Madison’s bunnies safe:

 Their nests can usually be found along the edge of a fence or building, and in the middle of the yard. Their nests are usually lined with rabbit fur and patches of dead grass. If you see an adult rabbit returning at the same time each morning and night, that might be the mother.

 Keep cats indoors or offer on-leash time. To further shield pets from the nest, place a laundry basket over the nest and weigh it down with bricks or rocks while your pet is outdoors, and then remove it once your furry friend is safely indoors so mama can find her babies.

Temporarily pause your yard work if you find a nest.

 Avoid mowing, spraying herbicides, or working near the nest. Kits become independent and leave the nest at four weeks of age, so they’ll be moving on and bouncing about Madison in no time!

If you find a sick, injured, or orphaned rabbit, please 

The Dane County Humane Society’s Wildlife Center is receiving a lot of calls about Eastern Cottontail rabbits as people are finding more nests filled with bunnies.

What To Do if You Find Baby Bunnies in Madison

How To Keep Madison’s Wild Baby Bunnies Safe

Get to know the natural side of Madison: the plants, animals, weather and more that make our city unique.

Madison Urban Almanac

Urban Almanac

There are so many different gardens that are open to community access. To be exact, 

there are 4000 community garden plots on 47 acres

 throughout Dane County. We broke down a couple in different parts of Madison for folks to check out.

And when you’re done harvesting, learn how to 

turn your bounty into pickled and fermented goods

 located North of the 500 block of Troy Drive has 327 plots. To join, contact the registrar at 

 or (608) 313-5188. Registration is usually on the first Saturday in March at Lakeview Lutheran Church. In the meantime, you can also 

 also offer different community gardens. At Black Hawk Middle School there are 44 plots open to the community. Contact the garden registrar at gardenregistrar@gmail.com or 608-698-0577 to be added to the waitlist. As for Lindbergh Elementary, there are 20 family plots for rental. For more information or to register for a community garden plot, contact Yimmuaj Yang at 

 is one of the oldest community gardens in Madison with 110 garden plots and youth programming with the Goodman Community Center. To be placed on the waitlist, send an email to 

 is on the school’s grounds. There are over 14 plots and if you are interested in using one, contact Carol Troyer-Shank at 

, located at 8 Straubel Court, offers 30 plots for community members, including children's gardens with youth programming through the East Madison Community Center. For more information or to register for a community garden plot, contact 

is home to one of the largest and oldest community gardens in Madison with a whopping 535 plots. For more information, check out their website, contact 

, or pick up an application from the Community Heights Community Center.

 offers 43 plots for community members along with a large children’s garden for the students of Midvale Elementary. Contact the garden registrar at 

 offers 44 plots with 7 raised beds and a children’s plot. If you are interested in being a part of this community Garden, reach out to 

 is a 30 by 30 square foot fenced area of land. This community garden is a collective effort with produce shared among gardeners, the neighborhood, and food pantries. If you want to get involved in this group effort, reach out to 

 that are open for community use. To learn more, reach out to Tom Wilson at 

 is another great spot to get your gardening on. This community garden has a collection of raised beds available in two sizes. The sizes are much smaller, making them great for new gardeners. For more information, contact the email 

Where Do You Garden? 🌱

There are so many different gardens that are open to community access. To be exact, there are 4000 community garden plots on 47 acres throughout Dane County. We broke down a couple in different parts of Madison for folks to check out.

Community Gardens in Madison

Everything to know about Madison neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Madison Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

 during the summer months. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin sat down with 

 to discuss hot patio spots in and around town. They laid out 

Enjoy some delicious Mediterranean food while sitting on the patio of this quaint, green-colored house. With string lights and hanging plants, this cozy patio is not to be missed. It’s also covered, so even if it rains, you can still enjoy this patio.

Known for its golf simulators, this is a great place to grab a drink and practice your shot. What you may not know is they have a great patio for people to enjoy. Full of Adirondack chairs, what’s a better place to kick back and enjoy yourself?

If you go to the entrance to the left of the Graduate, you will find Camp Trippalindee. Here, you are transported to a cozy bar that will make you feel like you’re at summer camp. Their patio overlooks part of downtown and you can even catch a glimpse of Lake Mendota.

Located on Lake Waubesa, this patio will make you feel like you have gone to an ocean-side town on the East Coast. With waterfront dining, a tiki bar, boat docking, volleyball, and more, there is a ton to do while enjoying the outdoors. 

Catch some live music at the East Side Club’s famous Tiki Bar. They also serve food every night of the summer including a brat fry hosted by the American Legion on Friday Nights. 

The Great Dane downtown is home to their outdoor patio known as “The Garden.” When you step into this patio, you are transported to somewhere in Europe with ivy-covered walls and string lights adorning the sky above you. 

 For a great cup of coffee and some fresh air, head over to Indie Coffee on Regent Street. With a huge tree in this back patio, shade is often provided making this a great spot on a hot summer day. 

Another great coffee spot with a patio is Lakeside Coffee House located right on Monona Bay. Enjoy a sandwich along with a yummy latte while sitting underneath the trees outside of this house-turned-cafe.

 Set up in a beautiful location along the Yahara River, Mariners Inn gives the vibe that you traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. With plenty of seafood and steak to go around, this patio is great for a nice dinner with your friends. 

 Located on King Street, the Youngblood patio is a great spot to grab a tasty IPA, or any beer really! With both big and small tables, this is a great date spot or a place for you and all of your friends to gather.

 if you want to travel a little further. Check out 

. This winery is located in Prairie du Sac, about 40 minutes outside of Madison. It feels like you’ve completely left Wisconsin, and the U.S., and landed in a vineyard in Europe. 

Madison has many opportunities to enjoy great patios during the summer months.

The Best Patios in Madison (& Beyond) 

Find the best of everything that Madison has to offer.

Madison’s Best

Madison's Best

shattered temperature records across the country

 in June, earning the name “the heat dome.” As if this wasn’t bad enough, us city dwellers have it worse due to something called the 

, which causes urban areas to be 1 – 10°F higher than their surroundings.

 far more than natural landscapes. Trees, water, and vegetation naturally cool the air by providing shade and evaporating surface water.

Additionally, vehicles, air-conditioning, and industrial facilities all emit heat in cities, contributing to the heat island effect. Lastly, the structure of the city itself matters. Cities with narrow streets and tall buildings become urban canyons, blocking natural airflow that would otherwise cool it down.

Besides the discomfort of living in a constant state of sweat (or is that just me?), heat islands also 

. Higher temperatures mean more air-conditioning, higher energy consumption, and more greenhouse gas emissions. The heat is also a serious threat to unhoused people and 

disproportionately affects low-income populations

Avoid Madison’s hottest neighborhoods: 

Madison’s hottest neighborhoods include the 

areas between Monona Bay and the Capitol Building

, which makes sense considering it’s a more densely populated area with little shade.

Dense tree coverage and grass mean temperatures will be up to 10 degrees cooler than in the city. The 

 are all great for this. There had never been a better 

 with different, fun ways to beat the heat!

The best way to mitigate the heat island effect is to increase plant and vegetation cover. Roadside trees, green roofs, and parks are all examples of how cities can do this more effectively. Tech such as cool roofs and cool pavement that reflect more sunlight can also help.

This summer has already shattered temperature records across the country. Here’s why it’s extra hot in Madison and where to go to cool off. 

How To Avoid Madison’s Heat Island Effect 

What Madisonians have been wondering. We break down why things in Madison are the way they are and how they work.

Madison, Explained

Whether you’re a seasoned birder or want to experience the peak of spring bird migration, Madison has plenty of options. Here’s a roundup of some of the best birding spots in the Madison area.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that a place with prairies, savannas, woodlands, wetlands, and big trees is a great place for birds. The 5.3-mile loop is adjacent to the Wingra Lake and is open year-round.

Nestled inside the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, the mile-long peninsula extends into Lake Mendota’s south shore. For the best viewing, head toward the Lake Mendota Lakeshore Path and the adjacent mash.

 The University of Wisconsin-Madison website has 

 you’ll find depending on the time of the year.

At more than 33,000 acres, Horicon Marsh is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the country. It is also recognized as a Wetland of International Importance, both as a Global and State Important Bird Area, by the 

 and Canada geese, waterfowl, and songbirds.

Elmer and Edna Culver Wetlands Conservancy

It might be a small park but it contains the 

largest natural springs in southern Wisconsin

. They also allow dogs as long as they’re kept on leash.

Ready to take flight as a full-blown birder?

 We spoke to Dexter “The Wisco Birder” Patterson, co-founder of BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, about his favorite birding spots and their program to 

donate birding kits to community centers and schools

Whether you’re a seasoned birder or want to experience the peak of spring bird migration, Madison has plenty of options.

outdoors

How To Keep Madison’s Wild Baby Bunnies Safe

Community Gardens in Madison

The Best Patios in Madison (& Beyond)

Latest articles

How To Keep Madison’s Wild Baby Bunnies Safe

Community Gardens in Madison

The Best Patios in Madison (& Beyond)

How To Avoid Madison’s Heat Island Effect

The Best Spots for Birding in the Madison Area

Latest articles

How To Avoid Madison’s Heat Island Effect

The Best Spots for Birding in the Madison Area