If your backyard suddenly became a place filled with holes, you might be looking at the works of a rabbit. While not all bunnies are involved in digging ground holes, many of them embrace this instinctive behavior. Rabbits use their strong front paws to dig holes in and around where they live and fill them in with what they can find.
In the wild, rabbits spend a lot of time digging, and their burrows can reach up to 3m. It may come as a surprise to you that your pet rabbit could also be involved in digging. However, digging is more of a leisure activity than a means of survival for domestic rabbits. So why do rabbits dig holes? All of your questions are covered in this article as we examine rabbits’ digging nature. This write-up will also tell you how to prevent bunnies from digging excessive holes in your compound.
Why Do Rabbits Dig Holes and Then Fill Them In?
Rabbits are skilled diggers and sometimes dig holes of different sizes in the ground. Bunnies may choose to dig holes for several reasons. After digging, rabbits fill their holes with twigs, fur, or leaves. These covers serve as a decoy to make their holes practically invisible to you and their predators. They also enjoy sitting in these holes as it makes them feel protected.
Wild rabbits create holes, then cover them up to safeguard the contents. Some female bunnies can dig holes and cover them with dirt to hide their infants. They make a plug rather than blocking the entire thing. A roadblock made of leaves and twigs, some pulled fur, and anything the rabbit finds lying around will be a significant deterrent at the entrance to their house.
The following are some of the reasons why rabbits dig holes and fill them in:
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To hide from predators
Rabbits are not skilled fighters and do not have sharp teeth to help them defend against predators. Instead, they rely on their abilities to run and conceal. Therefore avoiding detection is crucial.
Rabbits know their shelter is secure and undetectable to predators when they dig a hole. After digging, Rabbits will line their hole with grass, twigs, leaves, and sometimes fur. This act is widespread among wild rabbits. Wild Rabbits must defend themselves from other animals and flooding because they dwell underground.
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To protect their infants
Rabbits dig and fill in holes primarily to shield their young from predators. They must improvise as they can’t construct a front door to keep out trespassers and bad weather. Some pregnant rabbits build their nest by digging a shallow basin, a Pocket nest. The pregnant bunny pulls fur from her body and lines the nest to keep it warm and snug. To insulate and furnish the nest, she will also bring grass and straw inside. She will next apply a final covering of grass, straw, leaves, and plant stalks to fill in the hole. She will give birth to her children in the small pocket nest she has made once she is ready. The mother will cover their tunnels while their babies are inside.
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Safeguarding resources
Like squirrels and other animals, rabbits try to hoard food for the winter. Thus they can build caves to hide out some food. The rabbit is careful and picky about how they construct their holes; therefore, it takes some time for them to make a decent one. A rabbit can retain food and resources from the outside world and keep them in their holes for the future. They then secure the holes by covering the entrance, and filling it in as a security measure.
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Protection from bad weather
Another major reason rabbits may seem to be digging holes is that they are trying to escape harsh weather conditions. Conditions such as excessive rainfall, snow, sleet, flood, and melting ice are bad weather conditions for rabbits. Being damp during the cooler months might result in hypothermia for a mammal with many furs, like the rabbit.
Digging holes and filling up the openings can help them keep away from harsh weather.
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For plays
Given their high intelligence, rabbits require a lot of enrichment and entertainment to keep them amused. Bunnies find satisfaction in digging. Thus they occasionally use it as a form of exercise. Digging gives an otherwise idle rabbit a chore that makes them happy and can help relieve boredom.
How Do Rabbit Holes Appear?
Rabbits dig between 9 and 10 inches down. Typically, rabbit tunnels have a diameter of 10 to 15 cm. Rabbits are unlikely to have a very large hole. Rabbit holes are mostly relatable to the size of the rabbit present there with much soil found around the hole.
If you notice a hole in your backyard and wonder if it might be a rabbit hole, look at the hole and the region around it. If there are rabbits, they will leave signs of their existence behind. Tiny feces and tufts of fur will frequently be seen. There will also be traces of nibbling in the grass surrounding the hole.
You can install a camera in your yard to be sure. Get a night vision motion sensor similar to what hunters use. With this, you can identify the creature digging your lawn.
Do Rabbits Dig Holes To Give Birth?
A rabbit is most vulnerable during birth and is more likely to create a hole in the wild where it will give birth. The purpose of this hole is to protect the young rabbits. Rabbits are not the most maternal of animals compared to other mammals. Mother rabbits do not spend the entire day caring for and raising their young.
The mother sometimes keeps her distance; hoping predators that pick up her scent won’t find her babies. The babies will remain in the small, typically covered hole. The mother then returns daily to nurse the babies, mostly at night.
Pet rabbits, however, do not necessarily dig holes to give birth. However, digging may occur naturally if your pet is pregnant.
Can I Let My Rabbit Dig in My Yard?
You’ll likely notice your rabbits digging when you let them out for free-range exercise in the garden. They can do this for fun as an instinctive trait. Digging is completely normal behavior for bunnies. A rabbit’s typical burrow is around a foot deep. But if your rabbit is adamant about going far, it might start destroying your lawn and could escape through holes beneath the fence.
Always pay attention to their activities when you release your pet bunnies into the garden. Otherwise, they can destroy what took weeks and months to make in minutes or even escape.
How Can I Prevent Wild Rabbits From Digging Holes In My Yard?
For homeowners, wild rabbits can be a nuisance. They enjoy eating your flowers, bushes, crops, and herbs. Also, they dig holes all over your lawn, frequently digging under your entryway or house. The caves and holes could damage your structures. If you notice wild rabbits burrowing in your yard, try these tips:
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Fencing
Fences are a good strategy to prevent rabbits from entering your yard. To keep rabbits out, fence your entire backyard. Any type of fence is typically acceptable if it has netting.
To prevent rabbits from digging under the fence, bury it about six inches deep.
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Trapping
It is advisable to trap the wild rabbits and release them somewhere else. Trapping is okay if you don’t injure or hurt the rabbit while capturing them. Rabbits are clever and challenging to trap. Once caught, you can relocate a wild rabbit at least ten feet away.
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Use Rabbit deterrents
These occasionally work, but you might need to test out a few various types to find the best one. Several homeowners claim that the repellents are effective. Often, perfume and other strong scents don’t appeal to rabbits. Hence, you can consider using these scents to deter wild rabbits from entering your gardens and flowerbeds.
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Use fake animal figurines
To deter wild rabbits, you can also use mimic animal figurines. This works because rabbits can detect a possible predator from a vast distance thanks to their keen vision.
The greatest spoof animals to frighten off wild rabbits are those that are their natural prey. This comprises owls, kestrels, hawks, and falcons.
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Using sprays
Sprays that contain fungicides deter wild rabbits as well. They dislike the smell, and bunnies get irritated by it. It should only be your final option because it is also hazardous to people. Never apply this near or to herbs or vegetables. It works best on trees, shrubs, or ornamental plants to deter wild rabbits.
Conclusion
Both domestic and wild rabbits naturally dig extensive burrows and can fill them in with grass, leaves, and dirt. Bunnies dig for a variety of reasons. It creates a place where they may rest, give birth, and find safety from predators. Digging holes and filling them in will also help to protect young rabbits and provide warmth. Digging is also a great form of exercise for pet rabbits.