Rabbit Revelations: Surprising Facts About Bunny Behavior — CNET Reuters

Introduction

As a rabbit owner, you may think you understand your furry companion’s habits and characteristics. However, they are complex social animals with many surprising behaviors and traits. Their natural instincts have been shaped over centuries of evolution, resulting in fascinating habits that often go unnoticed by their human caretakers. Although they are popular as household pets, their rich social dynamics and communication methods remain a mystery to most owners. By better understanding a rabbit’s natural behaviors, diet, and social structure, you can provide an environment that keeps your pet happy and healthy for many years to come. This article will explore some of the most surprising and interesting facts about rabbit behavior that all responsible owners should know.

Bunny Basics: An Overview of Rabbit Facts

Diet and Nutrition

they are herbivores, which means they exclusively consume plants. Their diet should consist primarily of grass hays like timothy, oat, and orchard grass. These provide fiber to keep a rabbit’s digestive system moving properly. You should also feed them high-quality pelleted food designed for rabbits in appropriate amounts based on their age, size, and activity level. Limit treats like carrots, fruit, and seeds, as these are high in sugar and should make up no more than 10% of their diet. Always have access to clean, fresh water. Rabbits need constant access to water to avoid dehydration and health issues.

Housing and Environment

Rabbits should be housed in a spacious hutch or cage that is at least 4 times the size of the rabbit. Provide multiple levels connected by ramps or platforms. Include places to hide, tunnels, and other enrichment. Place the enclosure in a spot protected from extreme heat, cold, and drafts. Rabbits are social animals and can live together if properly introduced at a young age. Always supervise them together initially until you are sure they get along. Neutering males and females can help improve litter habits and behavior. They can be housetrained to use a litter box. Provide a box in their enclosure with unscented, paper-based litter. Place some of their droppings in the box to help them get the idea. Once they are using it reliably in their enclosure, you can start to let them out for supervised playtime. Always return them to their enclosure if they have an accident outside of it. They will learn with patience and perseverance.

Grooming and Healthcare

Brush or comb your rabbit at least weekly to remove loose hair and distribute natural oils. Trim their nails if they get too long. Regularly check your ears and clean them if necessary. Bathe them only when necessary using their shampoo and dry them thoroughly to avoid sickness. Take your rabbit to an experienced vet regularly for checkups and care. Have your female spayed and male neutered around 4–6 months of age. Watch for signs of illness like lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhea, or other issues and see a vet right away. With proper care and nutrition, a well-bred and cared-for rabbit can live 8–12 years.

Hop to It! Understanding Rabbit Movement and Locomotion

To understand his locomotion, you must first comprehend their anatomy. They have powerful hind legs that provide the thrust to hop, while their smaller front legs are mainly used for balance upon landing.
His hop begins by pushing off with its hind legs while keeping its spine straight and ears up. Rabbits can hop at up to 35 miles per hour over short distances thanks to their strong hind legs and light, compact bodies. Their tendons and joints also allow them to change direction quickly mid-hop.

Rabbits typically move in one of three ways:

Their primary mode of travel over open ground using both hind legs simultaneously.

Similar to hopping but higher and further, often over obstacles. They can jump up to 15 feet high and 30 feet in distance.

Scampering:

A hurried, scrambling movement using all four legs, is often seen when chasing each other or escaping predators.
In addition to hopping and jumping, they also walk, trot, gallop, and leap. They are capable of moving sideways for tight squeezes and even walking on their hind legs for a short time. They generally travel in a straight line using a series of hops, stopping periodically to check for danger before continuing on their way.
To summarize, a rabbit’s movement is a complex combination of hops, jumps, scampering, and other gaits. Their powerful back legs, light bodies, and flexible spines allow these athletic animals a range of locomotion ideally suited to their natural instincts and environments. Gaining a better understanding of how they get around can help owners provide proper space, enrichment, and care for these energetic creatures.

Munching and Molars: The Diet and Eating Habits of Rabbits

They are herbivores, consuming a diet made up entirely of plant matter. As natural foragers, rabbits spend a large portion of their day searching for and eating food. Their diet primarily consists of:

Grass and Hay

The bulk of a rabbit’s diet should be grasshays like timothy, oat, and bluegrass. Grass hays are high in fiber but low in protein and other nutrients. They should have unlimited access to fresh hay every day to promote a healthy digestive system and chewing activity.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens like romaine lettuce, spinach, and kale provide essential nutrients like vitamins A, E, and K. However, leafy greens should be given in moderation due to their high water content. Too many leafy greens can lead to diarrhea and other digestive issues in rabbits. Aim for no more than 1 packed cup of leafy greens for every 2–3 lbs of body weight per day.

High-quality pellets provide balanced nutrition when grasshays and leafy greens alone are not enough. Pellets should make up no more than 25% of a young rabbit’s diet. For young and lactating rabbits, pellets can make up a larger portion of the diet due to increased nutritional needs. Look for pellets with a minimum of 18% crude fiber and a maximum of 20% protein.

Vegetables, Fruit, and Treats

Vegetables, fruit, and treats should be limited to no more than 10% of a rabbit’s daily diet. Good options include carrots, broccoli, berries, and timothy-based treats. These foods are high in sugar and calories, so they should be given in moderation to avoid obesity and other health issues. A proper diet is essential to a rabbit’s health and longevity. By providing a variety of grass hays, leafy greens, pellets, and limited fruits and vegetables, you can feel confident your rabbit will receive the nutrients it needs to thrive.

Digging and Burrowing: Rabbit Homes Under the Ground

They are natural burrowers and diggers. In the wild, rabbits live in underground burrows to protect themselves from predators and harsh weather. Even domestic rabbits exhibit this natural digging behavior. As a rabbit owner, it is important to understand this instinct and provide appropriate outlets for your rabbit to dig and burrow.

Provide Digging Opportunities

They need opportunities to dig and burrow to stay physically and mentally stimulated. You can give them dig boxes filled with shredded paper, phone books, cardboard, or wood shavings. Place the dig box in an area your rabbits already frequent for digging, such as in a corner or along a wall. Burying treats, toys, or other enrichments in the dig box will encourage your rabbits to dig.

Choose a Suitable Location

If possible, provide your rabbit with an area outside where it can dig. An area with soft, loose dirt or sand, surrounded by a fence for security, is ideal. Bury toys, treats, and puzzles in the dirt to make digging rewarding and engaging for him. Be very careful not to give him access to plants, as many are poisonous. Always closely supervise your rabbit during outdoor time.
Indoors, a dig box can be placed on a tile, linoleum, or concrete flooring. Avoid carpeted areas, as the rabbit may start digging and burrowing in the carpet. Place the dig box in an exercise pen or blocked-off area to contain the mess. Provide multiple dig boxes in different locations so your rabbit has choices.

Address Any Destructive Digging

If they start digging and burrowing in inappropriate areas, you need to take action to redirect this behavior. Block access to the area, then give him an acceptable outlet for digging, such as a dig box. You can also try covering the area with double-sided tape or aluminum foil, or place motion-activated devices to startle him away from that location. Be consistent and patient, as it can take repeated redirection for a rabbit to learn appropriate digging spots.
With patience and the proper environment, a rabbit’s natural digging instinct can be satisfied in a way that is enriching for him and minimally destructive for the owner. Providing opportunities to burrow and dig, whether indoors or outside, helps keep them stimulated and promotes natural behaviors.

Rabbit Social Structures: Complex Communities and Relationships

They are social animals that live in complex warrens with hierarchical structures. Female rabbits are called to establish a pecking order and social groups. The top doe, known as the queen, leads the group. Does groom each other to strengthen social bonds and establish dominance.

Territoriality and Aggression

They are territorial and mark their warren and surrounding area with droppings and secretions from their chin glands to deter intruders. Unneutered males, called bucks, are often aggressive and territorial. They will fight by lunging, circling, and boxing with their front paws. Does may also fight to establish dominance, though less violently.
To reduce aggression, it is best to have rabbits spayed or neutered. Altering rabbits also decreases undesirable behaviors like mounting, spraying, and nest building. Grouped them should be introduced to neutral territory at a young age so they can bond. With time and positive interactions, many rabbits form close friendships and alliances within their warren.

Mating and Reproduction

A doe’s gestation period lasts around 31–33 days. Does give birth to litters of 1–14 kits, with 4–6 being average. Kits are born hairless, blind, and deaf. They develop quickly and emerge from the nest around 2–3 weeks. The doe nurses the kits for 4–6 weeks until they are weaned.
Unbred does may experience a false pregnancy after mating where they build a nest and become aggressive or territorial. To prevent unwanted mating and pregnancies, keep bucks and does separate or have them spayed/neutered.
In summary, though often perceived as simple creatures, they actually have a complex social system and communication methods. By understanding his behavior and relationships, owners can provide proper housing, nutrition, and veterinary care for their rabbits to keep them healthy and happy.

Conclusion

You may have thought you knew them, but these astonishing animals continue to surprise us with their complex behaviors and social interactions. They are far more than the stereotypical cute and cuddly creatures often portrayed in popular media. They have a rich social life, express a wide range of emotions, and even grieve for their lost companions. While a rabbit can make adorable and entertaining pets, they require daily interaction, mental stimulation, and a proper diet to thrive. They are intelligent, social beings that form close bonds and deserve our respect and understanding. The more we learn about these fascinating animals, the more we realize how much more there is yet to discover about the secret lives of bunnies.

Originally published at https://cnetreuters.com on September 9, 2023.