45 Bunny Facts to Make You Go ‘Squee!’
1. Bunnies naturally live in groups.
2. By “bunnies,” we mean rabbits, because there’s no difference.
3. They can live to be 10 or more years old.
That’s as long as your beloved dog may live.
4. And they can grow up to 4 feet long …
5. … but that’s not common.
6. It’s true that they reproduce a lot. (So get ’em spayed or neutered right away!)
7. Baby bunnies are called “kittens” …
8. … which is often abbreviated to “kits.” Aww.
9. In the wild, bunnies are eager foragers.
10. Bunnies binky when they’re really happy.
What’s a binky? Well, it looks like this:
It’s an expression of total joy.
11. When bunnies are happy (but not at binky-joy level), they purr.
12. Bunnies eat their own droppings.
13. These special droppings are called “cecotropes.”
14. It might seem gross, but these cecotropes contain essential nutrients for our bunny friends.
We can’t be grossed out when looking at this face!
15. Bunnies have unique personalities …
… just like humans, cats, and dogs do.
16. In the wild, they burrow underground. A group of burrows is called a “warren.”
17. In each warren, there are nesting areas—they have “bunny rooms”!
18. But they also have many exits for a quick escape.
19. Bunnies don’t like baths.(Because they’re pretty clean and don’t really need them. You should only bathe a bunny when specifically instructed to do so by a knowledgeable veterinarian who specializes in rabbit care.)
20. In fact, water terrifies them, and they can hurt themselves by thrashing …
21. … or can easily become sick if they get too cold.
22. They can get bored.
23. They need lots of toys and companionship to be happy.
24. They’re social and should ideally be adopted in compatible pairs.
25. Bunnies don’t make good companions for people who are new to caring for an animal …
26. … because they’re complex and need specialized care.
27. For example, guardians need to bunny-proof their homes.
28. Bunnies have been known to sharpen their teeth on electrical wires, houseplants, and furniture when a home isn’t properly bunny-proofed.
29. Speaking of their teeth … their teeth and nails never stop growing.
30. So you have to trim their nails at least every six weeks and monitor their eating habits to make sure their teeth aren’t overgrown and making it difficult for them to eat.
31. They are natural prey animals …
32. … which means they will try not to act hurt even if they’re in pain. Bunnies’ guardians have to watch for subtle symptoms of pain to make sure their bunny friends are healthy and happy.
33. When they’re sick or need a checkup, they need to see specialized veterinarians.
Paging Dr. McBunny!
34. It’s been suggested that bunny tails are white to confuse predators as they chase them …
35. … because every time bunnies turn, the stark white color makes pursuing predators refocus.
36. Also, their tails are adorable.
37. There are more than 2,000 photos with #bunnybutts on Instagram.
OMG #bunnybutts
38. Bunnies are crepuscular, meaning most active at dawn and dusk.
39. Bunnies are the third most common animal at shelters, after dogs and cats.
40. Because as with dogs and cats, people don’t spay and neuter rabbits like they should.
41. And people impulsively buy them at pet stores.
42. Bunnies are NOT Easter accessories …
43. … because caring for them is a lifetime commitment.
44. Did I mention they’re not good companions for animal-care newbies and that they’re not Easter accessories?
45. Good. Because they’re really not.
If you’re thinking about adopting a bunny, check out our tips on caring for your cecotrope-eating crepuscular friend.
Check out Animalkind, a bestselling book full of fascinating facts and amazing stories about animals!
