European Rabbit: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Wild Mix · day 1 of 4

Five facts

1. European rabbits live in burrows called warrens, in groups of one to five bucks (males) and one to eight does (females).
2. Rabbits eat their own soft pellets, called caecotropes, because they can't fully break down fibre the first time round.
3. A mother rabbit feeds her young just once each night, for a few minutes, then plugs the nest entrance with soil and plants.
4. Baby rabbits arrive blind, deaf and almost hairless. Their eyes open when they are 11 days old.
5. A doe has 4 to 5 litters a year of three to seven kittens, and not uncommonly mates again right after giving birth.

The quiz

1. What is a rabbit's burrow system called?

• A warren (correct)
• A drey
• A holt
• A sett

Rabbits live in burrows known as warrens.

2. What are caecotropes?

• Nest linings
• Scent-marking glands
• Soft pellets that rabbits eat (correct)
• Types of grass

Caecotropes are soft pellets that rabbits produce and eat.

3. How often does a mother rabbit nurse her kittens?

• Every hour
• Three times a day
• Once a week
• Once a night (correct)

She feeds her young just once each night, for a few minutes.

4. When do rabbit kittens' eyes open?

• At birth
• 11 days after birth (correct)
• 3 days after birth
• 30 days after birth

Their eyes open 11 days after birth.

5. How many litters can a doe have in a year?

• 4 to 5 (correct)
• Just 1
• 10 to 12
• 20 to 25

A doe has 4 to 5 litters a year.

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