What do wild rabbits eat

Although we like to give our own pet rabbits lots of fresh veggies, wild rabbits will eat whatever nutrient-dense foods are available. Obviously, fresh, green foliage is not available in the winter time. So what do wild rabbits eat in the winter? This really depends on the specific location. Actually, in many places in the southern United States, there are green plants growing nearly all year around.

This is true where I live. Rabbits can be seen grazing in fields all year around because there are usually at least a few green plants still standing.

As is necessary for survival, wild rabbits do not usually eat foods based on their taste buds. Instead, their diet consists largely of what is available. However, this does not mean that wild rabbits do not like some foods more than others.

In fact, it has been found that wild rabbits do prefer certain types of plants. As was previously stated, rabbits do not actually prefer carrots. Instead, they would much rather munch on things like apple, peach, and cherry tree leaves and bark.

They also prefer spruces and firs, as opposed to oaks. Alongside these particular foods, rabbits prefer the greenest, freshest vegetation. In fact, one study actually discovered that water intake was actually more important than food intake when it came to a rabbit retaining its weight.

In other words, rabbits who were provided with limited water but plenty of food lost significant weight when compared to your average rabbit. Simply put, wild rabbit food requires a lot of water to digest. This might be one of the large reasons rabbits prefer fresh, green plants to others. These plants simply have the highest water content. So, they allow the rabbit to fulfill its daily water need on top of providing nutrients and energy.

This is opposed to dry plants and bark, which do not contain very much water. If the rabbit eats these types of plants, he or she would have to find drinkable water elsewhere. Basically, the choice to eat plants with a high water content simply makes sense for wild rabbits. A domestic rabbit has ready access to water, and does not need to rely so heavily on its food to provide it.

Rabbits tend to eat around dawn and dusk. These are the safest times for the wild rabbits to escape from their burrow or thick undergrowth and graze. Mostly, this is because predators are generally less active at these times. Plus, the dim lighting makes it difficult for predators to spot the wild rabbit. Petkeen is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commision. Learn More. Rabbits are amazing animals with beautiful coats of fur that make us want to pick them up and cuddle them.

But while some rabbits are domesticated and ready for snuggles, most rabbits are wild, found throughout the world in meadows, forests, wetlands, grasslands, and deserts. Wild rabbits are used to living in nature, not with humans so they do not usually want to cuddle, let alone be touched, by someone in their natural habitat. Other than the difference in habitat and social structures between wild and domesticated rabbits, all rabbits are pretty much the same.

They all reproduce in the same way, they all explore and move around in the same way, and they all eat pretty much the same things. But wild rabbits can find their own food while domesticated rabbits must rely on their owners to provide them with the foods that they need to stay healthy. Some foods rabbits eat in the wild are not available to domesticated rabbits, so some improvisation is required. Here is what you should know about what rabbits eat in the wild and as pets:. This practice allows wild rabbits to survive the insufficiency of food during winter.

The lifespan of wild rabbits is very short. The average longevity of an eastern cottontail, for instance, is less than one year because they deal with disease, starvation, and predators. Domestic rabbits usually live between years. In captivity, wild rabbits should adhere closely to the diet of those in captivity but not to the often pelleted diet that pet rabbits are often fed.

Rabbits cannot: — pass gas and this result in stomach discomfort; — vomit due to the anatomy of their digestive system. Try to avoid, at least at the beginning, vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli.

In general, avoid all the rest of the foods that are not beneficial for a pet rabbit. Pellets are rich food sources, and therefore should not be fed excessively.

Furthermore, wild rabbits run around 3 miles each day, so you should maintain the same balance between activity and high caloric foods for your adopted wild rabbit. The best way to feed a wild rabbit is to cut him grass. Use scissors, not a lawn mower. This will prevent them from becoming dependent on you for food. Big piles of food in the yard can also attract other unwanted animals that may be more dangerous or prone to spreading disease such as raccoons.

However, if you want to occasionally scatter some leftover leafy greens in the yard for wild rabbits to eat, there is nothing wrong with that.

Leftover herbs, strawberry or carrot tops, or the trimmed ends of many different fruits and vegetables are safe for wild rabbits to eat. Instead of tossing these leftovers in the garbage, you put them outside for the rabbits. But try not to make this a daily habit. There are some exceptions, such as sunflower seeds, but for the most part you want to avoid setting these out where wild rabbits can eat them.

Even though birdseed is not good for rabbits, they will probably try to eat it anyway if they find it available. Keep the birdseed for the birds and let rabbits eat the leafy plants that are healthy for them.

Most of these are not healthy for rabbits, whether domestic or wild, and are best avoided. This includes treat mixes, as well as the yogurt treats that are widely available. Instead if you want to leave some treats around, you can scatter pieces of fruits and vegetables in your yard, such as strawberry or carrot, for the wild rabbits to come across as they are foraging for food.

That will keep them from eating a pile of the sweet fruits and vegetables all at one time. Most of the time, if you find a baby wild rabbit nest you should just leave it alone. Wild cottontail rabbits, which are most of the species you will find in North America, will leave their young in a nest.