The rabbit is a small mammal known for its long ears and big bushy tails. Although rabbits are originally native to Europe and Africa, rabbits can now be found across North and South America, and even in desert regions of the Middle East, where there is enough food and water for them to live on. Their fur comes in many colors: brown, tan, grey, black and white.
Today, there are more than 50 different species of rabbit and that number continues to increase as the selective breeding of pet rabbits becomes more popular. They can grow from eight to 20 inches long and weigh up to 6.6 pounds.
Rabbits are herbivores, with their main diet consisting of grass, but they will also eat nuts and berries, as well as some fruits and vegetables. In order to keep their food safe, they will dig burrows and store the food there. Burrows are also used by the rabbits to hide from predators — such as dogs, cats, foxes, snakes, large birds and humans — and to give birth to and raise baby rabbits.
Grass is most important to the rabbit’s diet. Not only is the grass good for them, but it is also good for their teeth! Rabbit teeth grow constantly and if the rabbit is unable to gnaw on things to slow down the growth, their teeth can become extremely long, which can be very painful for the rabbit.
Children enjoy being around rabbits because of their calm and quiet nature. However, many adults — especially gardeners and farmers — are not as fond of them because of the destruction they cause to the crops and vegetation.