20 Fascinating Facts About Rabbits (and why they shouldn't be given as Easter gifts)

[MoonRiver]

Rabbits are intelligent, social, very clean — and definitely not starter pets, as some people believe them to be. Just in time for Easter, here are some interesting facts that you may not know about these “hoppy” little creatures.

https://www.care2.com/causes/20-fascinating-facts-about-rabbits.html

[Equinox Moon]

1. Thanks Moon

[MoonRiver]

2. Welcome Moon!

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. Thanks for posting this...

neither are ferrets....which is completely off your posts meaning, but...

I get very tired of seeing them sold in pet stores. Too many are bought as impulse buys with the new owners having NO idea how much time and effort is required to take care of them.
That is the reason we have had to rescue over 30 of them over the past 18 years.

[MoonRiver]

4. I agree about ferrets, also guinea pigs and hamsters.

All these animals are very difficult to care for and imo kind of go crazy when they are trapped in cages.

[Ferrets are Cool]

5. Yup, those too.

[MoonRiver]

6. Thank you so much for rescuing those adorable beings!

[Ferrets are Cool]

7. They have brought so much joy and happiness into our lives.

Unfortunately, they are bright stars that burn out quickly because of being spayed and neutered too soon by the breeders. (normal lifespans of 5-7 years)
Which is why we have over 30 permanent markers around the outside of our yard perimeter. Each one placed there with love.

And, you're welcome!!

[DFW]

12. I have never even touched a ferret

But ever since I read the H.H. Munro (Saki) story of Srendi Vashtar, I have always had great respect for them.

I'm sure the story had less to do with his knowledge of ferrets than the fact that H.H. Munro hated his guardians, but when one reads such stories as an 11 year old, they sometimes leave a lasting impression--in my case, a totally unfounded, yet thorough respect for ferrets.

http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/vashtar.html

[Ferrets are Cool]

17. Thank you for sharing this story.

[Kirk Lover]

20. Most ferrets are bold and courageous, afraid of nothing....they also give great kisses.

[Runningdawg]

8. I have to interject a funny bunny story here

I grew up with rabbits so it was no big deal when my boss asked me to pet sit her's while she was on a 2 week vacation. Hubby was NOT thrilled. Bunny was a joy and loved to follow me around the house. The first night we had him after dinner we settled in on the couch to watch a little TV. He jumped right up and settled in too - scaring the crap out of my hubby in the process! OMG you didn't tell me they could jump! LOL Now, for some reason my hubby was scared of this rabbit...fast forward a couple days when the rabbit followed my husband to the bathroom. COME GET THIS THING!!!!!! He standing at the toilet freaking out. "You need to get this rabbit out of here NOW" Why? "You've seen how high he can jump! What if he jumps up here and takes a bite?"
OMG I was bent over laughing. That did not go over well with hubby...he tolerated the bunny for the rest of the visit, as long as it didn't come near him. I was advised to never volunteer for bunny duty again.
Want to know what makes it even funnier? My husband is a Marine.

[MoonRiver]

9. OMG, LOL!

That is one of the funniest stories ever!

[chowder66]

10. So funny! I love it. I have a funny little story as well.

My old boyfriend had a rabbit named Agnes. I moved in with him and Agnes took to me instantly and I fell for her.
I would lay down and she would climb all over and nuzzle me. One day, she managed to get up on my face and I was laughing
trying to figure out how to gently lift her off because her claws were a bit long. As I grabbed her sides to lift her off I shouted to my boyfriend to come here. He came in and I said "Um, I think Agnes is actually Angus".. and sure enough, there they were, two little testies that dropped. We carried on calling him Agnes.

[MoonRiver]

13. Yikes! But really funny too!

[Ferrets are Cool]

16. Thank you for this hilarious story.

[FirstLight]

26. great story!

too cute!

[smirkymonkey]

29. "What's he do, nibble your bum?"

Your story reminded me of this scene in Monty Python's Holy Grail.



TIM: There he is!

ARTHUR: Where?

TIM: There!

ARTHUR: What, behind the rabbit?

TIM: It is the rabbit.

ARTHUR: You silly sod!

TIM: What?

ARTHUR: You got us all worked up!

TIM: Well, that's no ordinary rabbit!

ARTHUR: Ohh.

TIM: That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!

ROBIN: You tit! I soiled my armor I was so scared!

TIM: Look, that rabbit's got a vicious streak a mile wide! It's a killer!

GALAHAD: Get stuffed!

TIM: He'll do you up a treat, mate.

GALAHAD: Oh, yeah?

ROBIN: You mangy Scots git!

TIM: I'm warning you!

ROBIN: What's he do, nibble your bum?

TIM: He's got huge, sharp-- eh-- he can leap about-- look at the bones!

ARTHUR: Go on, Bors. Chop his head off!

BORS: Right! Silly little bleeder. One rabbit stew comin' right up!

TIM: Look!

[squeak]

BORS: Aaaugh!

[dramatic chord]

[clunk]

ARTHUR: Jesus Christ!

TIM: I warned you!

ROBIN: I done it again!

TIM: I warned you, but did you listen to me? Oh, no, you knew it all, didn't you? Oh, it's just a harmless little bunny, isn't it? Well, it's always the same. I always tell them--

ARTHUR: Oh, shut up!

TIM: Do they listen to me?

ARTHUR: Right!

TIM: Oh, no...

KNIGHTS: Charge!

[Runningdawg]

30. Yep - I think my hubby had that scene in mind

[Drahthaardogs]

11. I grew up eating rabbit and just cannot look at them as pets

I know others do, but I just can't

[Runningdawg]

15. We ate the wild ones

and I bred the domesticated ones for 4-H. I can't eat domestic rabbit. I know, I know...but to me there IS a difference.

[Sancho]

14. If you want to get drunk and watch old movies....

here's one of my favorites! Janet Leigh and DeForest Kelly star!

Night of the Lepus!!

[Kirk Lover]

18. Maybe here is justified use of an AR-15. Please don't tell my rabbits I said this.

[FirstLight]

19. I had bunnies growing up

I had two that were "supposed to be" 2 males...ended up being male/female.
After the female chewed her way into the male's cage a couple times and lost 2 litters, we moved them to a better hutch situation. Old Hawaiian man who was our neighbor took them in, bred them by the moon phases...the deal was that the big bunnies, my pets, would be cared for and he could sell the babies to the market.

At one point we had over 15 bunnies, I would go over everyday after school and play with them and such. They were loved for several years, till the old man got cancer and he ended up selling all the bunnies to market, even my pets! I was devastated.

[MoonRiver]

23. That is heartbreaking.

Most humans could care less about other animals, and not much more about their own species.

[FirstLight]

24. in his defense, he was really sick and it was a mistake

He told me he felt bad... I was 12, and it was hard because he was like a grandpa to me and I couldn't handle him dying. He was a good man and I even learned a few things about raising chickens and gardening from him. They had an actual farm in the Oakland Hills, with huge Hawaiian tropical garden and coy pond with a big waterfall. My best friend on the street and I spent countless afternoons up there talking to the animals and such... very fond memories.

[FirstLight]

25. Another neighbor/friend of my parents had a rabbit like a pet cat

Harvey... he was an albino and used the litterbox and ran around the house with toys, etc.

[oberliner]

21. The article actually says they are "good pets for working people"

For what that is worth.

[MoonRiver]

27. I think the article was just cautioning people that rabbits require a lot of care.

For people who are prepared, I believe they are very sweet pets. I love my yard bunnies, and used to befriend them, using food. Once a baby bunny, who had probably watched me with her/his mother, hopped over to me and put its little nose against my leg!

[Kirk Lover]

22. Never had rabbits...until recently. My landlord lost interest in her 2 rabbits and had them

living in deplorable conditions so I agreed to take them and boy are they happy. As long as you rabbit proof properly, then life is easy. If you don't you'll want to kill them but then remember it's your fault because you didn't rabbit proof and there are a variety of cheap ways to obtain that.

So this list was very interesting to a newish rabbit person like myself. As a matter of fact it's our year anniversary! I got them at Easter time last year!! Happy Anniversary Snuggles & Lilly and Happy Easter to All on DU.

[Marengo]

28. Rabbits were my 1st love. I raised Checkered Giants and English Spots. Some of my fondest...

Childhood memories are of showing them at the county & state fair. I’ll soon be introducing my son to the joy of rabbits.