Can Bunnies See in the Dark? Are Rabbits Scared of the Dark
There are many animals that have special adaptations that help them see in the dark. For example, raccoons (which are actually partially blind by the way and generally only have night vision) and opossums have extremely big eyes that help them see. Cats have large dilating pupils so they can see better at night, as with other animals. But what about rabbits? You often hear of them being out at night, but do they have night vision too?
Night Vision Goggles
No, rabbits cannot see in the dark. They can’t see when it’s too light or too dark due to evolution. Over the years, rabbits have adapted to being more prominent during dawn or dusk to be more active. Your rabbit is actually similar to a raccoon, which is pretty well blind in the bright light of day. They do not have night vision goggles like many people believe. This is why if it’s too light, or too dark, these are dangerous times for a rabbit. They may not see a predator, or they may end up hurting themselves by running into things if it’s too bright, or not lit enough. This is why most rabbits require some sort of light to be on all night to help them get around.
Being Crepuscular
If you have your rabbit out in the daytime with a lot of sunlight in, this can actually harm your rabbit. While they may start to get more activity around dawn or dusk, if you have your rabbit free (or even outside in a cage), you may want to keep the room they are in somewhat lit as it helps them to be able to see and not rely on their other senses.
Rabbits are Near Sighted and Far Sighted
Rabbits don’t see that far away, but they don’t see that well except in certain dimly lit rooms. They’ll more than likely recognize you from your body and face shape, as well as your voice. One thing that some people don’t know is that rabbits are partially color blind.
Why Do They Have an Extra Eyelid?
This eyelid is similar in numerous animals, but it’s to help keep the eye moist. Most rabbits don’t blink very often, and you may miss it because they’ll only do it about 10 times in an entire hour. This third eyelid protects the rabbits eye and is more commonly visible in albino rabbits more than anything.
Conclusion & Can Pet Rabbits See in the Dark
Rabbits are still being researched constantly, and not much is known about rabbit vision. Scientists have seen rabbits do something called “scanning”, which is when rabbits move their heads slowly side to side. At the same time, if you ever see a rabbit looking at you, you may notice that instead of facing you, they’ll turn their head so they can better see you. If they’re not blinking, it’s unclear whether they are actually processing two separate images or whether they’re blocking out the one that they’re not focusing on you with.
