Nutty Rabbit

[Michelle Crow]

Hello

We have a wild Rabbit that has chosen to live in our garden. We live in North-East Scotland surrounded by farmland. A LOT of Rabbits here, but only one or two who venture into the garden and only one who has taken up permanent residence.

What we've been noticing is that he watches us and tries out plants he thinks we're eating. For example - every time I prune or trim a plant he hops over as soon as I move off to give it a nibble.

But that's not the weird thing - this weekend he did something I've never known any Rabbit to do and I'm not sure if this is normal for Rabbits or if it might link back to the fact he watches to see what we "eat".

We were cleaning out the bird feeders, throwing out the old peanuts before refilling them. Rabbit came out while my dad was in the garden doing this... and ate the thrown out peanuts! He scoffed the lot.

Do Rabbits eat nuts or is ours just nuttier than normal?

[Morph]

I know Hedgehogs, Badgers and Foxes eat peanuts so I suppose, why not.

[Tracey.A]

When the bird seed arrived at our local reserve, quite often some of the bags were ripped and the Rabbits would appear as soon as we started loading them into a shed, they didn't care what kind of bird food it was, seeds, peanuts they scoffed anything lying on the ground. I'd be talking to a visitor with Rabbits all around my feet happily munching away, they were so use to us. It was lovely!

Tracey

[Darley]

Originally Posted by Michelle Crow

But that's not the weird thing - this weekend he did something I've never known any Rabbit to do and I'm not sure if this is normal for Rabbits or if it might link back to the fact he watches to see what we "eat".

I think this Rabbit has sinister intentions. Good Rabbit accomodation is in short supply, and I'm guessing he's actually after your house. Probably just a scout sent out to do some surveillance. Be careful where you leave the door keys ...

[big bill]

Hello Michelle and a warm welcome to WAB firstly,I suppose its not inknown for them to eat nuts seeing others in the same group like hamsters guinie pigs and others do ,Think yourself lucky that you do not have a dog that sits under the feeders eating the bird seed that the birds drop she would rather eat the seed than her own dog food.
The birds dont bother about her I think they see her as a safety blanket as she will not tolerate any cats in the garden at all

[Kayleigh]

Hi Michelle and welcome to wab,
I didn't know Rabbits would eat nuts either, we had a Rabbit living in our garden in the old house it would eat all my coriander..we had pet Rabbits I thought they attracted it, it would sit for hours in the border sunbathing.

Bill my dog also eats the birdseeds

[sometimes]

For some reason satay Rabbit comes to mind - I think I need to go for some therapy.

Obviously your local circumstances are particular to you, but I'd be a little wary about encouraging Rabbits to 'own' your garden. It doesn't take long for them to get a burrow-hold and if, like me, you're not peope to cause undue stress to animals it's going to be difficult to get rid of them.

[Wild-Woman]

Start worrying when it climbs up the tree to get to the feeders!

[Michelle Crow]

Hi Everyone and thank you for the warm welcome.

I wasn't expecting such a quick reply result.

sometime
I was chuckling here myself over the satay Rabbit. Particularly since I did threaten to eat it last month when it noshed all my chives. Chive and peanut Rabbit... it does sound like a recipe!

At this stage it's just too darn cute to chase away, but if it brings in the family and fifty furry friends I will have to get tough.

It already is territorial. It thumps angrily if I invade the back garden and it has two favourite snooze spots - beneath the barbecue or in an old flower pot. The irony of a Rabbit feeling safe under a barbecue...

[Dutchess]

Well well, that Rabbit has taken a liking to your place, hasn't he? Lucky you. It sounds like a young buck establishing his territory. They can get quite territorial - so mind your calves! Some of mine circle my feet as I walk, snorting and grunting all the while. I have one buck that I would not trust - he would attack me if he thought I was challenging him.

I am not surprised he is eating nuts and bird food, etc. In the good old days (don't mention the war) folk used to gather acorns in autumn to dry and store for winter feeding of their Rabbits. They would be useful to crush and mix in a warming mix of bran mash. Mine will nibble on most things when offered (had one that adored traffic light lollipops when I was a kid!) but nowadays they are pampered and fed so well, they can afford to be picky.

Ooh! I don't want to sound pedantic here, but being a rabbity person (hence my ID) I must set the record straight . Rabbits are not of the same family as hamsters, rats, etc (i.e. rodents). They are of the order Lagomorpha (Rabbit, hare, pika) and of the family Leporidae (Rabbit or hare).

'Would love to see some piccies of this Rabbit if possible. Some of my rabbity friends would too, I am sure of that.

D.

[Michelle Crow]

Hi Dutchess

I've suspected it is a "he" for a while now. Thank you for confirming that - this is my first time as a Rabbit watcher so I wasn't sure.

I have photos of my rascally Rabbit on my blog. I'm not sure how to post photos here yet and I'm not sure if this place allows links to other places? In other words - I'd love to show you the pictures, but which is the best procedure - download pics here or add links to pics elsewhere?

PS... your story of the young buck reminds me of an experience I had years ago with a bantam rooster. He was a neighbour's pet, but he decided he loved me. (not sure if that's a compliment or not... ) He'd bring me twigs and croon a nesting song, but the down side to this adoration was that he'd attack anyone standing next to me. Several family members ended up getting spurred and pecked by him.

[caladina]

my mom has a Rabbit and it likes nuts too

although i would suggets capturing the Rabbit in question and seeing if there is a zip underneath it, it might be a squirrel in a Rabbit suit you know how inventive they can be

[sometimes]

Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha

The very thought of it makes me crease up - nice one Caladina!

[Dutchess]

Thanks, Michelle. I shall go look at your blog

lol! I don't know what's worse, a possessive Rabbit/bantam or an aggressively territorial one! Guess it amounts to the same thing though, they are jealously protecting what they consider to be theirs.

D.

[ron1863]

We have two Rabbits visiting every evening, one is a tame Rabbit that was freed a couple of years ago by a near neighbour and the other is a wild one. We put Rabbit food out and they both eat out of our hands, they have now been joined by a Hedgehog that also eats the Rabbit food