36 Fascinating & Fun Rabbit Facts You Probably Never Knew
With their long ears, cottontails, and adorable hopping, rabbits are delightful to see. But while these furry critters may be cute, what else do we know about them? We may see them hopping around in the wild, but domesticated rabbits can be kept as pets too. Did you know that there are over 180 breeds of rabbits around the world? Check out this list for more rabbit facts, and see which ones surprise you!
1. A baby rabbit is called a kit or kitten
The female adult rabbit is called a doe, and the male adult rabbit is called a buck. While they may share their names with other animals, they’re all bunnies to us!
2. Rabbits live underground in the wild
This is where they’re safest from predators. They dig intricate tunnel passages and combine these tunnels with those of other rabbits. The tunnels have rooms attached to them where the rabbits live and nest. This network of rabbit burrows is called a warren.
3. Rabbits can rotate their ears 180 degrees to pinpoint the exact location from which a sound is coming
A rabbit on high alert will have their ears sticking straight up, listening. A relaxed rabbit might have ears that droop a bit or even turn sideways. Very scared rabbits will put their ears straight back and flat to their bodies, trying to make themselves as small as possible.
4. In addition to enabling them to hear and perceive potential danger, a rabbit’s ears can help regulate their body temperatures
When the rabbit is too hot, the blood vessels in the ears will expand to give off heat and help cool the bun down. When they’re too cold, the blood vessels contract, helping to retain heat in the body.
5. Bunny Island sounds like a dream, but it really exists
Ōkunoshima, a small Japanese island, is known as Rabbit Island or Bunny Island, where over 1,000 buns live and multiply. Tourists can visit the rabbits. They’re mostly tame because they’re used to people feeding them. Hunting, hurting, or otherwise harming rabbits is forbidden. No other animals are allowed on the island, to make sure the bunnies stay safe.
6. If you have a pet rabbit, you may be able to pet them, but rabbits don’t like to be picked up or held
This is because they’re naturally prey animals and don’t have many defenses. You may love your furry pet, but a bunny’s instinct is to be on high alert for predators. Picking them up can scare them and make them feel as though they are being captured.
7. Your bun may not be a cuddler, but that doesnt mean they don’t enjoy your company
Rabbits like interactions with their owners and enjoy playtime and other pets. Some rabbits like to cuddle next to you or sleep in your lap as long as they trust you and don’t feel confined.
8. You may think that they’re the strong, silent type, but rabbits have a wide vocal range and can make sounds, including growls
When they’re happy, they make a sound similar to grunting. They can also squeal, whimper, hum, cluck, and hiss.
9. If it sounds like your rabbit is purring, they are, in a way
Rabbits rub their teeth together when they’re happy, creating a purr-like sound. When cats purr, they’re usually happy and content, and the same is true for bunnies.
10. Rabbit teeth never stop growing
Because of this, people tend to think rabbits are rodents. They’re not, but they do need help keeping their teeth short. In the wild, rabbits keep their teeth short by chewing on branches, bark, and stumps. In captivity, you’ll need to provide your rabbit with wooden blocks, hay, and other chew toys. Chewing on these things helps wear down their teeth. If all else fails and their teeth still get too long, a trip to the veterinarian is necessary for teeth trimming.
11. Bugs Bunny wasn’t telling the truth
Rabbits may enjoy carrots as a snack, but they don’t — and can’t — live on them. Carrots are root vegetables and not part of a bun’s natural diet. Plus, carrots are high in sugar and not ideal to give to a rabbit that often. They can even cause tooth decay. Rabbits eat hay, grass, greens, and other fibrous foods as a standard diet.
12. Bunnies may hop along happily but they can also jump with force
A rabbit can use their back legs to jump as high as 3 feet in the air and 10 feet forward. That’s pretty incredible for such a small animal that lives so close to the ground.
13. Rabbits can use litter boxes
So, your furry friend can have more freedom around the house and not stay confined to a cage. Training usually only takes a couple of weeks. However, instead of regular cat litter, rabbit-friendly litter should be used instead.
14. Bunnies are social creatures and choose to live in groups in the wild
Not only do they combine their warrens and live together, but they also enjoy the company of people. If you have a pet rabbit, they would probably like to have another rabbit friend. If this isn’t possible, make sure to spend as much time with your rabbit as you can to keep them from getting bored and lonely.
15. When rabbits are happy, they jump and sort of twist in the air
They can rotate completely in the air as they leap. This is called a binky, which is an adorable name for an adorable movement.
16. A bunny’s eyes are on the sides of its head
This gives them an almost 360° view of their surroundings. A rabbit can’t see directly in front of them, but they have a view of what’s happening behind them. This helps them see if a predator is approaching. Since rabbits are prey animals, their vision is one of the main things that keep them safe.
