By Rabbits are among those adored creatures that get more love from humans. This benevolent species adds grace to our meadows and backyards. With their long, pink ears, black button noses, and cottontails, they look distinctive and cuddly. Many times when we see rabbits in our backyard, we love to feed them. But what do wild rabbits eat?
When in wild conditions, Bunnies used to eat weeds, clover, wildflowers, grasses, flower, and vegetable plants when the temperature is warmer. But when the climates start changing and turn to cooler temperatures, bunnies tend to munch on buds, twigs, conifer needles, bark, and any remaining green plants. These stuffed rabbits used to eat in wild conditions.
But what we can offer these wild bunnies in our backyard? Well, you can feed anything available in your house to rabbits. Several types of commercial pet bunny foods are available on the market. This commercial food can also be feed to these plants do wild rabbits eat. In this article, we will discuss in detail what do rabbits eat?
What Do Rabbits Eat Carrots?
Rabbits are herbivorous in nature so generally crave green plants that are readily available in wild conditions. The green plants preferred by rabbits include shrubs, grass, tree leaves, clover, and weeds. They are also reported to eat tree bark, particularly from fir, spruce, apple, cherry, and peach trees. Rabbits can also eat twigs as well as pine needles.
Read also: Can Rabbits Eat Watermelon? In Watermelon Safe for Rabbit
It is reported that wild bunnies prefer green plants over other foodstuffs. They are also seen climbing up the tree in order to get the fresh green leaves. Also, if you let what do wild baby rabbits eat on a plate having carrots, they will prefer eating grass and shrub in the area over the carrots. This doesn’t mean that they do not like carrots or cannot eat carrots. Instead, they prefer green grasses and shrubs over other feedstuff.
So if you don’t mind the wild bunnies visiting your backyard or you want to start feeding these cute bunnies. You should offer them green veggies and lettuce. Also, if you offer them carrots, fruits, or any other veggies, they will eat that. So the answer to the question of what wild rabbits eat can be veggies, leaves, green hay, fruits, and grasses.
Alternatively, you can also feed these cute wild bunnies with a commercial rabbit pellet. It is full of all nutritious substances. They can eat any of these commercial products if given the option.
Water Requirement for What Do Wild Rabbits Eat
- Rabbits don’t matter if they are wild or pet, both require full access to fresh water in order to digest their food. Rabbits have the tendency to start losing their body weight in the case when they don’t get sufficient water. You will notice weight loss in water scarcity conditions even when they are eating the same amount of food.
- As fresh and green vegetables have a high amount of water, this is the reason why rabbits tend to eat green and fresh vegetables even when they have many more options. Eating food with a high amount of water helps them easily digest their food.
Rabbit Behavior to Eat Night Droppings or Rabbit Cecotropes
- Many of us must be shocked to hear that rabbits have the tendency to eat the cecal pellet that they produce from food that is not fully digested. These cecal pellets are also known as night droppings that rabbit drops in the evening and eat them.
- Cecal pellets are more similar look like fecal pellets, but they are different. Cecal pellets are rich in nutrition and it is absolutely normal for the wild rabbit to eat them. In fact, it is essential for the rabbit to eat these pellets as they are rich in both nutrients as well as digestive bacteria.
- This tendency of eating cecal pellets is seen in both wild as well as pet rabbits. But wild rabbits rely more on them, especially in what wild rabbits eat in the winter when there is food scarcity.
What Do Wild Rabbits Eat in the Backyard?
- Wild rabbits have the tendency to visit domestic backyards in search of food. If you don’t mind the wild rabbits visiting your backyard, you can maintain an area there where wild bunnies can come and eat.
- In the food, you can offer these cute creatures with commercial rabbit pellets or other commercial food. These rabbits can also eat the hay that you used to give your pet bunny-like alfalfa, timothy, oat, or orchard grass hay.
- As mentioned above, rabbits prefer eating fresh and green vegetables, so providing them with the food they are fond of is the best option. But make sure the vegetables you are giving should not produce gas as it can cause bloat in bunnies. Bloat is a serious condition in rabbits and can even lead to death.
- In the backyard, make some arrangements for fresh water. This will make the bunny visit your backyard daily.
How to Feed a Wild Rabbits Eat
When you see that a bunny in search of food comes to your backyard, you might wish to feed them. But don’t know how to feed wild rabbits? Given below are instructions that might help you feed the wild bunny and make him your daily visitor:
- You can create a special area in your backyard having rabbit food and fresh water. An adult bunny will come and eat the meal. Since wild rabbits have the tendency to eat in a shrubby or wooded area, you can consider creating a small garden or small brush pile for these cute creatures.
- You can provide these wild rabbits with green grasses, weeds, a small number of fruits, spinach, mint, parsley, pea pods, Swiss chard, dill, the green part of the carrot, or full carrot, green grass or hay, and many more.
- Make sure the food you are giving should not produce gas. Some food and vegetables like onion, garlic, reddish, etc. have the tendency to produce more gas. This can cause bloat in these poor bunnies. Also, bloat is fatal in rabbits. So avoid offering such kinds of stuff.
- If you see any orphan or baby bunny, feeding them is quite complicated. First, make sure that the baby bunny is actually an orphan. Mostly mothers rabbit nurse their child in the early morning and night only. So most of the time, baby bunnies stay without their mother.
In the case when you see a baby bunny hopping around on their own, first make sure if they are actually orphans. An orphan bunny will look cold, weak, debilitated, dehydrated, or sometimes injured. In this case, they need your help.
Read also: A Complete Guide on Domestic Rabbit Animal Breeds 2021
Since it is difficult to nurse a baby rabbit, you should call a wildlife rehabilitation center as early as possible. But in the case when the bunny requires urgent help and food, you should feed them. You can feed them with regular goat milk. If not possible, then milk replacement easily available in the market is also recommended.
How Long Do Rabbits Live?
You might be wondering, how long do bunnies live? To answer to this most domestic rabbits live for at least 8 years, with many living to be over 12 years old. Domestic rabbits have regular access to food and safe hiding places, unlike wild rabbits, who are constantly stressed by predators. Hence, a pet rabbit’s typical lifetime is 5-10 years, several breeds are known to live longer much more than wild rabbits. Miniature or dwarf rabbit breeds, like dogs, have a longer lifespan than gigantic varieties.
What Do Wild Rabbits Eat at a Young Age?
When you find any orphan baby rabbits, you can feed them with goat milk. In the case when goat milk is not available in your local store, you can offer them easily available milk replacers.
Read also: What to Feed Wild Rabbits in Winter?
Feeding them with cow milk or human baby formula is not recommended. When you notice that the baby rabbit is cold, first place them in a warm area. Now feed them with warm milk. This will increase their survival chances.
What Is the Difference Between Wild and Pet Rabbit Diets?
There is no major difference between the diet of pets and wild rabbits. The only difference is that pet rabbits get access to a wide variety of rabbit pellets, hay, fresh veggies, and fresh water. A wild rabbit can also eat these kinds of stuff if given the option. But generally, they don’t get such an opportunity in the wild. Thus wild rabbits have the tendency to eat whatever they find.
The Bottom Line
So this was a complete guide on what do wild rabbits eat. I hope this article helps you.
FAQs: What Do Wild Rabbits Eat?
What do wild rabbits eat?
Wild rabbits primarily eat a diet of vegetation, consisting mainly of various types of grasses, herbs, and wild plants found in their natural habitat.
Are grasses a significant part of a wild rabbit’s diet?
Yes, grasses are a staple in the diet of wild rabbits. They consume a variety of grasses as a primary food source.
What other plants do wild rabbits eat?
Wild rabbits also consume a wide range of other plants, including clover, dandelion greens, plantain, chickweed, wild lettuce, and various leaves and twigs.
Do wild rabbits eat fruits and vegetables?
While fruits and vegetables are not a significant part of their natural diet, wild rabbits may occasionally nibble on certain fruits or vegetables they come across in their environment.
Can wild rabbits eat leaves from trees and shrubs?
Yes, wild rabbits may eat leaves from various trees and shrubs when available in their habitat.
How do wild rabbits find food in the winter?
In winter, when vegetation becomes scarce, wild rabbits rely on their ability to forage and find whatever food is available, such as dried grasses and twigs.
Do wild rabbits need to drink water?
Wild rabbits typically obtain most of their water from the vegetation they consume. They are adapted to obtaining sufficient hydration from their natural diet and do not need to drink water separately in most cases.
Is there a difference in the diet of wild rabbits in different regions?
Yes, the diet of wild rabbits can vary depending on their geographical location and the availability of vegetation in their specific habitat.
How do wild rabbits forage for food?
Wild rabbits use their keen sense of smell and excellent agility to forage for food. They use their front paws to dig and their sharp incisor teeth to gnaw on plants.
Can domestic rabbits eat the same diet as wild rabbits?
Domestic rabbits have different dietary needs and requirements than wild rabbits. While some wild vegetation can be safe for domestic rabbits to consume, it is essential to provide them with a balanced diet, including hay, fresh vegetables, and limited pellets, to meet their specific nutritional needs.
Remember that wild rabbits have adapted to thrive on their natural diet in their environment. If you encounter a wild rabbit in distress or need to provide care for one, consult with a wildlife rehabilitation center or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for proper guidance and assistance.