What Do Rabbits Eat In The Wild?
Rabbits are considered one of the most likable and gracious animals to grace our backyards or gardens. Very often the term rabbit and hare are used interchangeably, an word/implementation that might confuse.
In actuality rabbits are one among the 29 species belonging to long-eared mammals with family Leporidae, excluding hares. Usually, Rabbits are born without fur and with their eyes closed, their gestation period is 30 to 31 days.
Difference Between Wild and Domestic Rabbits :
To the parishioner, wild and domestic rabbits breeds look alike. It is not their mistake to think that they both look completely indistinguishable.
Despite this, there are a range of differences between them. These differences are, rabbits have far shorter lifespans than their domesticated cousins and generally, live for 2 years compared to the domestic bunny’s lifespan of around 10 years.
Listing below some of the major differences:
- Approachability: Wild rabbits will never approach you. If you try to grab them, they will run and kick. A pet rabbit will trust humans much more compared to a wild rabbit.
- Movement: If the rabbit moves with confidence, it’s likely to say that it is wild. The wild rabbits know their territory, and where to cast for safety. Domesticated rabbits are timider, they move slowly, exploring new terrain.
- Colouring: Wild rabbits are exclusively light brown whereas domestic ones often bear spotted fur or even different coloring.
- Head Shape: The head of a wild rabbit will be longer and thinner. Their eyes will also be tapered with an almond-like shape. On the other hand domesticated rabbits will have wide, round eyes and fluffy cheeks.
- Companionship: Wild rabbits are rarely found alone. They travel in groups whereas domestic rabbits are often expected to roam solo.
What Do Wild Rabbits Eat in the Winter?
In the summer months, there’s plenty of grass, clover, wildflowers and other green plants for them to eat. When it gets cold outside, the green plants die off. So, the question arises, what do wild rabbit eat? Wild rabbits depend on greenery only until winter hits. Once the weather gets cold, they eat tree bark, twigs, and pine needles. They also eat their caecotrophs, which can only be partially digested but are extremely nutritious.
What Plants Do Wild Rabbits Eat?
For almost the entire span of time rabbits remain on the same diet. But among the rabbits, bunnies are the ones who opt for tender shoots and are particularly fond of broccoli and lettuce.
During the summer seasons, rabbits generally eat weeds, grasses, clover, wildflowers, vegetable plants, and flowers including bunnies-like gazanias, marigolds, and petunias. Whereas when the weather turns from hot to cold (winter), rabbits will masticate on twigs, buds, bark, conifer needles, and leave out green plants.
Do Wild Rabbits Eat Vegetables?
Unquestionably wild rabbits do eat vegetables. They have different kinds of diets, that’s why they need extra care and servings. Give them at least three different types of greens per feeding including the one that is high in vitamin A. You can feed them collard greens, Lettuce, Romaine, Parsley, Bok Choy, Dandelion leaves, Peapods, Swiss chard, Cilantro, Dill, and Celery leaves.
Feeding a Wild Rabbit
Giving food to a wild rabbit or feeding them is not at all recommended. Hence, it’s best to leave them on their own for food. As feeding them might alleviate the natural survival ability of any rabbit. Instead you may simply place grass, hay, pelted rabbit food, fresh fruits or vegetables in your yard.
Conclusion
I would like to conclude this by saying that wild and domestic/pet rabbits do have some differences in their diets that we have to keep in mind before we provide them with food. In addition, wild rabbits must be fed in wide and open spaces and some special time must be dedicated to their exercise and movement. This is completely opposite to what most people think, that wild rabbits rarely have carrots in their meal and root vegetables but instead they only eat the leafy parts.