It's not necessarily true that wild baby cottontail rabbits grow slower as pets. Here's why:
* Diet: A healthy diet is crucial for growth. Domesticated rabbits often have a more consistent and controlled diet, leading to faster growth. Wild rabbits rely on varying food sources, which can impact their growth rate.
* Stress: Wild rabbits face a lot of stress from predators, competition for resources, and harsh weather. Stress can slow down growth. A pet rabbit living in a safe, secure environment with minimal stress may grow faster.
* Genetics: Different rabbit breeds have varying growth rates, just like different human families do.
However, wild rabbits do need to grow up quickly to survive. They need to develop the skills to find food, avoid predators, and care for themselves in a harsh environment.
Bottom line: There's no definitive answer to whether wild baby cottontail rabbits grow slower as pets. Both wild and domesticated rabbits can have varying growth rates, and various factors influence their development.