Fun Facts About The Rabbit

Rabbits are cute mammals with short fluffy tails, distinctive long ears and whiskers. There are approximately 30 different species of rabbits globally and though they may live in quite different environments, they share many things in common.

Size

Rabbits tend to be the same size as a family cat however species such as the jackrabbit can grow to be as large as a small child. The biggest rabbit in the world measured 4 foot three inches and weighed 49 pounds. The largest breed of rabbits are the checkered giant.

Rabbits breed three to four times each year and the reason for this insatiable reproductive habit is because only 15 per cent of new born rabbits make it to their first birthday. This means to ensure the survival of their species, rabbits breed a lot.

Between three to eight baby rabbits are produced from each pregnancy and are called kits or kittens. After less than six weeks a kit has the ability to take care of itself and within two to three months the rabbit is ready to breed. Areas which lack natural predators for rabbits can therefore quickly become overrun.

Diet

Rabbits are omnivorous which means they do not eat meat and survive on a plant based diet. During the summer, rabbits will feast on herbs, lettuce, greens and peas. In the winter rabbits feed on twigs, buds and barks.

Habitat

Rabbits originate from Africa and Europe though they can now be found in many other places. Domestic rabbits require an environment which is regulated that protects them from both hypothermia and or heat exhaustion. Wild rabbits on the other hand are adapted to temperature extremes and can be found in all sorts of different environments.

Wild rabbits build their own homes by burrowing into the ground. They create tunnel systems also known as warrens which include multiple rooms for sleeping and nesting. There are also several entrances that facilitate a quick escape.

Habits

Rabbits are a very sociable species and tend to live in large groups known as colonies. Rabbits are busiest at either dawn or dusk which is their preferred time period for going out to forage for food because the low light conceals them from predators.

Rabbits are both quick and crafty, to escape a predator, a cottontail rabbit will flee in a zigzag manner, reaching speeds of as fast as 18 miles per hour.

A rabbits ears can grow to as long as four inches which enables them to both better hear predators approaching as well as stay cool during the hot months. Additional body heat is releases from the blood vessels in the ear.

The rabbit can also rotate its eyes 360 degrees and enables them to see behind them without having to turn their heads.