Cool things you should know about rabbits

Rabbits are familiar animals that can be kept as pets, considered pests, or found as prey in the wild. But how much do we actually know about these fascinating creatures? The facts below reveal why rabbits are significant in Iowa as well as in many other parts of the world.

Jump for Joy

When rabbits feel happy or excited, they may suddenly spring into the air while twisting their bodies and kicking their feet. This energetic behavior is known as a binky and occurs in both wild and domesticated rabbits. Rabbits can show contentment in several other ways, including softly grinding their teeth in a manner similar to purring, rubbing the scent glands beneath their chins against objects to mark them, grooming other rabbits, and suddenly flopping onto their sides.

Although rabbits are capable of producing various sounds, they generally remain quiet. Making too much noise could draw the attention of predators, so staying relatively silent is an important survival strategy.

Not a Rodent

Despite a widespread misconception, rabbits are not rodents. They belong to the lagomorph group, which also includes hares and pikas. Iowa is home to one rabbit species, the eastern cottontail, as well as one hare species, the white-tailed jackrabbit, which can sometimes be found throughout the northern part of the state.

Rabbits and hares can be distinguished by the condition of their newborns. Baby rabbits are born blind and without fur, while young hares are born with fur and their eyes already functioning. Another difference from rodents is that lagomorphs breathe exclusively through their noses and have a completely herbivorous diet.

Worldwide Warrens and an Aussie Oops

Rabbit species can now be found on every continent except Antarctica, and more than half of the world's rabbits are located in North America. Australia, however, did not originally have rabbits. European settlers introduced them during the late 1700s for hunting and partly to recreate familiar surroundings in their new home.

The animals brought to Australia were European rabbits. Unlike Iowa's eastern cottontails, European rabbits commonly form large social groups that live together in underground systems called warrens. Within less than a century, these introduced rabbits had become a serious problem. Australia lacked enough natural predators to keep their numbers under control, and their extremely rapid reproduction allowed them to compete with native herbivores while causing extensive damage to agricultural crops.

Both government agencies and members of the public attempted numerous ways to control or eliminate the rabbit population, but few approaches produced lasting results. One of the best-known efforts involved biological control. In 1950, authorities released the myxoma virus among rabbits, reducing their population from roughly 600 million to around 100 million.

However, some rabbits developed resistance and survived the outbreak. By the beginning of the 1990s, Australia's rabbit population had once again increased to an estimated 200–300 million.

Evasive Measures

Because rabbits are prey animals, they remain highly alert to their surroundings and constantly watch for potential threats. Their broad field of vision is one of their most useful defenses, with only a small blind area of approximately 10 degrees directly in front of their face.

When a predator is detected, social rabbits such as European rabbits may warn the rest of their colony by repeatedly striking the ground with their hind feet. Individual cottontails generally use a different strategy. Rather than immediately running, they may freeze in place and attempt to remain unnoticed, only fleeing when necessary.

When chased, cottontail rabbits can reach speeds of approximately 18 mph. They often move in unpredictable zig-zagging circles, making it more difficult for larger predators to follow because those animals cannot change direction as quickly. A rabbit can also cover as much as 15 feet in one leap.

If a predator manages to grab a rabbit, the animal may fight back by kicking forcefully and releasing large amounts of fur, which can sometimes help it escape the predator's grip. Rabbits also commonly search for food around dawn and dusk, periods when predators may have greater difficulty detecting them.

Tough Teeth

A rabbit's front teeth continue growing throughout its entire life, much like its nails. Constant growth allows rabbits to keep eating fibrous foods such as grass, which naturally wears down their teeth as they chew.

If a rabbit goes without sufficiently tough foods for a prolonged period, its teeth can become excessively long. Overgrown teeth may then create additional health problems and interfere with normal eating.

Grass is both fibrous and difficult to digest, so rabbits have developed a way to make better use of the nutrients it contains. They may consume their own droppings so the food material can pass through their digestive system a second time, allowing them to recover additional calories and nutrients. Rabbits are also unable to vomit, which may be connected to this unusual digestive process.

Rabbit manure can be useful as fertilizer, while their nitrogen-rich urine may help lemon trees produce more effectively.

Grow Up Fast

Rabbits are famous around the world for their remarkable ability to reproduce. They can become sexually mature at only about four months of age. Female rabbits can carry a litter, with young rabbits commonly called kits or kittens, for approximately 30 days before giving birth.

A female can become fertile again within just 24 hours after delivering a litter. During a single breeding season, she may produce several litters. Domestic female rabbits that have not been spayed also face a significant risk of developing reproductive cancers.

(Un)abandoned Babies

Finding a nest filled with young rabbits without seeing an adult nearby does not necessarily mean the babies have been abandoned. Mother rabbits usually visit their offspring only a few times each day. They also tend to avoid visiting during daylight hours because their presence could reveal the location of the nest to predators.

If you accidentally disturb a rabbit nest, carefully put back any dried grass and fur that had been covering it, then leave the area alone. The mother will usually return to care for the young or may relocate them to another hidden site.

People should not try to raise wild baby rabbits themselves. Even with assistance from experienced wildlife rehabilitators, young rabbits can have a very low survival rate, and some loss among wild animals is a natural part of the ecosystem.

Rabbit Season, Duck Season

There's no need to choose between the two like Elmer—the seasons can overlap. Before heading into the field, hunters should make sure their license is current and check the official hunting and trapping regulations for specific dates and additional requirements.

For anyone planning to hunt rabbits, DNR wildlife technician Jim Coffey notes that rabbits tend to run in large circles when pursued. This behavior can make them particularly interesting animals to hunt with dogs.