Do Bunnies Hibernate? Pet Rabbits Hibernating in the Winter
There is a common misconception that since rabbits are wild mammals, that they hibernate because they live in dens. Another common misconception that people think is that they are going to do the same if they’re living at home in a cage. Well, we’ve got some good news for you in this article to let you know whether or not rabbits hibernate, and can give you some information on their habits to back that up.
Do They Hibernate?
The quick answer is no. Even if they’re domesticated pets, rabbits don’t actually hibernate. They may need special accommodations during the winter months if they’re kept outdoors (or if they are wild). Fortunately, since most domesticated rabbits live indoors, you may not have to make many changes, but you want to make sure your house is comfortable for it. If your rabbit lives primarily outside, you might want to make some home modifications to ensure your rabbit is safe from the weather.
Remodeling their Home
For outdoor rabbits, you may want their hutch to not be directly on the ground, as it will keep moisture from getting into their cage. Also check for holes in the roof of wherever you’re keeping them. The biggest thing you need to do is help your rabbit stay warm. You can add extra bedding and hay, and give them some interaction every day so you can keep your rabbit active. Let fresh air get into the cage as much as possible, keep their water fresh and not frozen (the ball-valve of a water bottle can freeze easily and needs to be checked often). Other things you can do is that if your rabbit’s hutch is inside something like a garage or shed, you can help them keep warm by providing extra heat from something like a space heater (keep it where rabbits can’t actually get to it and burn themselves or knock it over of course).
Why Don’t They Sleep?
Rabbits literally live off of vegetation year-round, and their diet does change drastically so they can eat winter vegetation as well. You may notice your rabbit starting to eat more things like bark from trees and leaves, as well as nuts so they can store more fats to keep warm and help them grow their winter coat.
Why You Don’t See Rabbits in the Winter Much
While rabbits don’t hibernate, they just don’t get as much activity as they do during summer months. Not only that, but many times their coats change as the seasons change so wild rabbits are harder to see, and they can be more camouflaged which makes them less visible. Some people think that rabbits aren’t safe when it comes to temperatures being around the freezing line, but this isn’t a problem for your rabbits. It’s the harsh cold that can affect them the most. The only thing you may have to do it add some extra things to know that they are warm and cozy and they’ll be fine.
