How far can a rabbit jump

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

I was out the other day, and was surprised to see a rabbit jump the gap in the picture below. I was wondering how far a rabbit can jump. I've conveniently placed two mallards near the gap to give some size reference.



Now this will seem daft. If you see an animal and with in a millisecond of seeing it you decide what it is, is that then what you see regardless of if you have identified it correctly. For instance if my leaping rabbit was something else but because I only saw it for a moment and I immediately decided it was a rabbit could it have been something totally different, even though it may be wrong size or even shape.

I ask this for a reason of course. Now I saw something leap this gap. It was going quickly and I caught it out of the corner of my eye. I assumed it was a rabbit. I do remember it been very long, as a leaping rabbit would be, and I don’t remember a tail of any sort. This morning I was chatting to a guy who has seen an otter on several occasions leaping this very gap. So could I have seen an otter and just assumed it was a rabbit.

If you've made any sense of that ramble then well done, and have a gold star.

BWD

[camo]

Hi Billy

In my mind I have an idea of what would be a silly distance for a Rabbit to jump and I would say your gap is wthin an "expectation of range" however Rabbits tend to do most of their jumping upwards or to the side to escape an attack. Your Rabbit clearly had a mind to the 2012 games. Where I have seen Rabbits next to water they have tended to treat the water as a boundary and i have never seen a Rabbit jump water unless it was in an escape situation.

Clearly the habitat is perfect for an otter but why would it jump, they tend to be a bit lazy and will slide where they can walk, I am also struck that Otters are less co-ordinated when on ground. However as you say your mate saw Otters jump the gap.

I am of a mind that Wildlife fans have a second sight and even a short glimpse is positively identified. To be definite I would look for footprints, although I appreciate you may not be able to get to the point.

Roy

[The Woodman]

Looks like good otter habitat and potential frogging spot. Several features where spraints might be found can be seen in the image. What's that down to the left of the duck between it and the end of the wall?

Otters and rabbits would find this jump distance no problem.

[Ferret]

If your impression was a Rabbit I would have thought that the obvious confusion species would be a Hare which are capable of quite spectacular leaps. I think an Otter is unlikely, although they are very active and would jump down from a higher to lower level I don't think I have ever seen film of them leaping very far.

Ferret

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by camo

Hi Billy
Clearly the habitat is perfect for an otter but why would it jump, they tend to be a bit lazy and will slide where they can walk, I am also struck that Otters are less co-ordinated when on ground. However as you say your mate saw Otters jump the gap.

Roy

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Looks like good otter habitat and potential frogging spot. Several features where spraints might be found can be seen in the image. What's that down to the left of the duck between it and the end of the wall?

Thanks both for your relies. It is indeed good otter habitat with several sightings in and around the area. We, the local wildlife trust will hopefully building a holt very near by in the next month or so.
I expect it was a rabbit I saw, it was only since speaking to the guy who saw an otter there as well that I hoped I had got it wrong.
I felt a bit daft even typing the question earlier. What hope is there for me if I can't tell the difference between a rabbit and an otter

Thanks again.

[camo]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

I expect it was a rabbit I saw, it was only since speaking to the guy who saw an otter there as well that I hoped I had got it wrong.
I felt a bit daft even typing the question earlier. What hope is there for me if I can't tell the difference between a rabbit and an otter

Thanks again.

Don't feel daft after all it might have been an Otter! and just think the next time you turn the corner it may be back.



Roy

[Gill Catton]

I think if it had been an otter it would have caught more than the corner of your eye - they're bi! and I reckon your brain would have clocked it as something different and exciting to see....

Perhaps it might have been a stoat if not a rabbit they move sooo fast!

though it was probably a rabbit

definately not a hedgehog - it'd never make the animal olympic long-jump.

[ron1863]

Any chance it was a Hare as they can really jump and look a bit more like a rabbit than an Otter does.

Ron

[salukiwhippet]

I was thinking hare too. I have seen rabbits jump over rabbit fence when they've had the right motivation, but that's high jump, not longjump!. Could it have been being chased by anything? If not, my money's on a hare.

James

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

definately not a hedgehog - it'd never make the animal olympic long-jump.

Thank you Gill for your informed responce

I'm sticking with a rabbit now with a hare close second and the hedgehog near the starting blocks still.

Thanks for all the replies

BWD