In answer to the question what animal eats rabbits, the most common that springs to mind is the fox. But there are numerous others including pet dogs and cats, birds of prey, stoats, weasels, ferrets, badgers and snakes. Did you have any idea how many animals eat rabbits?
This article explores the predators of rabbits here in the UK and suggests some ideas of how to protect your own domestic bunnies from harm. In addition rabbits are an important part of the natural ecosystem and we explore how we can work on habitat conservation to ensure that we can protect and enhance spaces for wild rabbits.
What preys on rabbits in the UK?
There are a few categories of prey animals for rabbits in the UK, both wild and domesticated.
Natural Predators
Both young rabbits and adults are vulnerable to a wide array of predators in their native habitats as well as in domestic settings. Rabbits in their first year of life are still learning the ways of the world, so are vulnerable to attack from many predators both in the sky above and from the ground. Injured rabbits will always be more vulnerable to predator attack. Think carefully about how you care for and protect any injured bunnies in your care.
1. Birds of prey
Hawks, owls, kites and kestrels are all birds of prey, who given a chance will target rabbits from above. They use their keen eyesight to spot the rabbits from afar, especially if they are in open areas. Rabbit enclosures should be protected from above to ensure that birds of prey cannot take an opportunity. We use brush piles and others use woody plants to create spaces for the rabbits to hide out of sight from these airborne predators.
North American birds of prey that hunt rabbits include golden eagles, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks and snowy owls.
2. Foxes
Foxes can be a serious pest. They typically hunt at night or in the early morning, although over the last few years I have increasingly seen them out in the day. If you are keeping domestic rabbits in an urban setting foxes are prevalent at all times of day or night. In more rural environments they still tend to hide away during daylight hours. Foxes are belligerent and will keep going on the attack unless they get disturbed. If a fox were to enter your rabbit enclosure they can easily kill all of your bunnies.
3. Weasels and Stoats
Even though small in size, these animals are carnivores and they will happily hunt rabbits using their speed and agility, baby rabbits are particularly vulnerable to attack from weasels and stoats.
4. Badgers
Even though these omnivores mostly eat earthworms, beetles and grubs, they will prey on young rabbits, making them a threat to your colony.
5. Ferrets
A smaller predator, but mighty, ferrets are quick and can attack baby rabbits with the ease of the larger animals. Their small size means that they can get through small spaces or gaps in your fencing or rabbit protection. So be aware when predator proofing your space, you are not just protecting from the big creatures, there are small and skinny ferrets that you need to protect the rabbits from too.
6. Rats
Rats are omnivores, we are very concerned about rats and our kits. They are not likely to attack a grown rabbit, but the babies are a potential target. We have seen rats in the vicinity of our rabbit enclosure and use humane traps to try and move them away. We use wire mesh, you could use chicken wire, across the floor of the enclosure to both keep the rabbits in, but more importantly to keep the rats out.
Remember that baby rabbits are left for long periods on their own in the safety of their underground burrows while the mother rabbit feeds. These juvenile rabbits are vulnerable to rat attack.
Domestic Pets
8. Dogs
When protecting rabbits don’t only think about what wild animal may harm your bunnies. Your pet dog could be as much of a threat. They can pose a serious threat to the rabbit population, both wild and pet rabbits kept in outdoor enclosures. Despite their domestication, dogs retain their predatory instincts, making them a danger to rabbits, especially in suburban areas where human and wildlife habitats overlap.
9. Domestic Cats
Pet cats will roam far from home, so even if you don’t own a cat yourself that does not mean that your rabbits will be safe from cats. Cats are predators and will try to hunt rabbits given an opportunity.
Other threat to rabbits
In addition to being prey to many predators, species of wild rabbits are in decline for other reasons.
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
As human development continues to expand, rabbit populations face habitat loss and fragmentation. There are fewer spaces available for large warrens to grow. Social groups of rabbits start to shrink and they are exposed to increased predation pressure. Encroaching into urban and suburban areas brings large groups of rabbits into contact with new predators and reduces their access to suitable hiding places and food sources.
Other Threats
In addition to predation, rabbits face other threats such as injuries from human activities, frightening devices like scarecrows or loud noises, and even vehicle collisions in areas where roads intersect with their habitat. Myxomatosis, whilst not as prevalent as it was, is still a very serious viral infection that can affect both wild and domestic rabbits. Infected bunnies will become very sick and die.
Protective Measures
To mitigate the impact of predators on rabbit populations, various protective measures can be implemented. The most effective way to protect domestic rabbits is to have a well-constructed fence and enclosure. We have made our own which houses our colony. We work hard to look out for our young animals ensuring that they have a chance to survive past infancy. They have a good food supply filled with a variety of plants that enables them to grow into strong and healthy bunnies.
Conservation
Whilst we do keep domestic rabbits, and whilst we do eat rabbit meat, we also believe strongly in conservation and protection of wild spaces. We want to ensure that wild rabbit species not only survive, but that they thrive. We would like to see rabbit numbers increase in the wild. Rabbits do have many predators; they are an important part of the food chain. We need lots of wild rabbits to ensure the survival of those creatures further up the food chain, such as owls and badgers. And as we all know rabbits breed well. This enables them to increase their numbers quickly.
For us working to protect wild spaces to ensure that there is food availability and ideal habitat available for European rabbit species is a crucial part of our smallholding practice.
Habitat Conservation: Protecting and restoring rabbit habitats, including brushy areas, marshes, and grasslands, can provide essential refuge and breeding grounds. We create as many wild pockets as we can on our land leaving grass to grow long and undisturbed. Ensuring that when we walk in nature we stick to the paths and not walk off into the undergrowth which may be housing wild rabbit warrens.
FAQ
What is the number one predator of rabbits?
The number one predator of rabbits in the UK is the fox. However there are many other serious threats to rabbits not only from wild animals such as birds of prey, but also from human activities – such as traffic collisions and removing habitat. And many rabbits also sadly die from diseases such as flystrike or meximatosis.
What could have killed a rabbit in my yard?
Dead rabbits found close to houses are most likely killed by foxes or dogs. Although any of the animals mentioned above could also be the culprits.
What animal are rabbits scared of?
All species of rabbits are scared of sudden noises and new things. They rely on their long ears to hear and their long hind legs and bodies to detect movements. If they sense danger they will try to hide, if there is nowhere for them to hide, or the danger feels too close they will freeze.
What are the largest predators of rabbits?
Some of the larger predators in the UK include foxes and badgers. Elsewhere in the world the largest predators are bears.
What scares rabbits the most?
Rabbits are timid by nature, you could say they are naturally fearful of many things. They are scared of new things – for example a new person in their enclosure. They are scared of sudden noises, car horns, building works etc. And they will display sadness when exposed to social stress, for example being left alone or losing a friend.
What kills rabbits at night?
Night time predators include foxes, badgers, owls, stoats, weasels and ferrets.
Conclusion
Cottontail rabbits and their kin play a vital role in ecosystems, serving as prey animals in the food chain and contributing to the biodiversity of their habitats. By understanding and addressing the various threats they face, from natural predators to human-induced pressures, we can work towards ensuring their survival for generations to come. Whether in our own back garden or across vast wilderness areas, protecting these charming creatures requires a concerted effort to preserve their habitats and manage their interactions with predators.