Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk. They spend the rest of the day resting in hollows called forms where overhead cover such as a bush protects the rabbit from birds of prey. Rabbits frequently use woodchuck, skunk or badger burrows during winter months and sunbathe in any nearby sunny spots.
Signs of rabbit presence in the winter include shrubs or seedlings cleanly nipped off at the snowline to about 24 inches above the snowline, piles of their round, dark colored droppings, and of course, their tracks. This practice of nipping off seedlings is one reason gardeners consider them a pest.
Rabbits make soft grunts when taking care of their young. They also talk by thumping their hind feet (remember Thumper in Bambi?). If attacked by a predator, they make a scream that has been compared to the cry of a human baby. Rabbits are very cautious animals. Their large eyes provide vision over a wide area its large ears pick up even faint sounds. If a strange sound is heard, the rabbit instantly stops all movement to avoid being noticed. If that fails, the rabbit runs fast, using its powerful hind legs to escape. They rapidly hop away in a zig-zag fashion which makes them harder to catch. A rabbit that cannot escape may fight, using its hind feet to make quick blows and deep scratches on the attacker.
Rabbits position their bodies in different ways to communicate with other rabbits. If the rabbit sits up or stands on its hind legs and holds its ears upright, it is showing an alert posture. When rabbits lay their ears down along their back and squat close to the ground, they are being submissive to another rabbit with a higher social status. Rabbits only defend home territories during breeding and nesting season. Then they may fight off other rabbits that come into their territories.
Rabbits interaction with Humans
Rabbits are primary consumers because they convert plants into meat as they eat. This makes them valuable to us because they also serve as prey for fox and other animals we use for fur. Many young hunters learn to hunt rabbit before moving up to other game.
Rabbits can become serious pests for any gardener, homeowner, nursery owner, or orchard owner. They destroy many vegetable plants, ornamental bushes and young trees including fruit trees. My carnations have never bloomed for me because rabbits eat the buds just before they open. Years with high rabbit populations often mean fewer flowers for the gardener.
