Wild Wednesday - Wild rabbit
Rabbits are found throughout the UK in a variety of habitats. They are ‘prey animals’ and rely on speed and hiding to escape predators. They have fantastic eyesight and hearing, which helps to warn them of danger, so they will most probably see you before you see them.
A few facts about rabbits …
- the name ‘cottontail’ comes from its short, white, fluffy tail
- rabbits are about 16.5 inches long and weigh about three pounds, most females will weigh more
- by standing on their hind legs, predators can sense a predator from a long distance
- they usually hide away during the day and come out at night to eat
- they can live for four to five years but the average life expectancy for rabbits that survive leaving the nest is only about 11 months
- hunted by hawks, owls, and foxes, they use their speed to get away and stay safe, sometimes hopping up to 18 miles an hour!
The following is not pleasant but it’s nature — most of their day is spent underground, resting and passing soft, black droppings, which they eat as more nourishment can be extracted from doing this. The rabbits then produce hard, pellet-like droppings above ground, in a special 'latrine' - an area on the ground used as a toilet.
Wild rabbits will start to nest mid-March and will continue through to early September. On average, a rabbit doe can have three to eight babies or “kits” per litter and can have up to five litters per breeding season. They are pregnant for about thirty days, with their young born in shallow burrows or nests lined with the doe’s fur and covered with grass.
Wild rabbits create tunnels in the ground that they use for their homes called a warren, and it includes areas for the rabbit to sleep and nest. They will have several entrances to their burrow, so they can escape quickly if they need to.
A diet of clover, dandelions, grasses are the most popular leafy greens to feed on, but they also like roots, fruits, fungi and seeds. During winter when plant food is scarce, they will nibble on tree bark and twigs. It is important they have a variety of these things to get all the vitamins and minerals that their bodies need. They also need plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially on a hot summer day.
Read more here: Rabbit | The Wildlife Trusts