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In contrast to rodents (squirrels, etc.), which generally sit on their hind legs and hold food with their front paws while feeding, cottontail rabbits eat while on all fours. Cottontail rabbits typically only use their nose to move and adjust the position of the food that it places directly in front of its front paws on the ground.
Animals feeding on local vegetation decimates the already narrow scope of food for the rabbit. The practise of extracting materials from trees and destroying local vegetation destroys areas that the rabbits conventionally use to escape the heat, and also hide from animals which seek to eat or harm them.
The major characteristic of the footprint pattern not seen in other rabbits is widely spread toes. [13] Marsh rabbits are more aquatic than swamp rabbits as they are not known to inhabit forests. [13] They take to water readily and are excellent swimmers. To aid in swimming, the hind legs have less fur and longer nails than typical cottontails. [7]
Rabbits need unlimited access to grass and hay, so they shouldn't ever be left without food. However, if it's an emergency and there's no other choice, then they can go up to 12 hours without eating.
Bunnies benefit from a varied diet and it’s important to include fresh foods in your rabbit’s menu to satisfy all their nutritional needs. Here are 32 things rabbits can eat that you might not ...
Eastern cottontails eat vegetation almost exclusively; arthropods have occasionally been found in pellets. [24] Some studies list as many as 70 [ 24 ] to 145 plant species in local diets. Food items include bark, twigs, leaves, fruit, buds, flowers, grass seeds, sedge fruits, and rush seeds. [ 11 ]
Rabbits play an important part in the terrestrial food chain, eating a wide range of forbs, grasses, and herbs, and being part of the staple diet of many carnivorous species. Domestic rabbits can be litter box trained, and—assuming they are given sufficient room to run and a good diet—can live long lives as house pets.
However, rabbits typically run from mustelids, and may fear them innately. Cases are known of rabbits becoming paralysed with fear and dying when pursued by stoats or weasels, even when rescued unharmed. [59] The European rabbit makes up 85% of the polecat's diet, and its availability is important to the success of breeding female mink. [25]