Rabbits' Natural Eating Habits

Wild rabbits, such as cottontail rabbits, are a common sight throughout the U.S. All rabbits are herbivores, meaning they feed only on plant life. Because of this, they often become an unwanted nuisance in lawns and gardens. The natural diet of a rabbit varies with the change of seasons, but is generally high in fiber and low in fat, a diet necessary to maintain the rabbit's delicate intestinal balance.

  1. Grass and Hay

    • Due to their constant need for fiber, a rabbit's diet is about 90 percent grass. Rabbits that live near farms or pastures also consume large quantities of hay to get fiber and most rabbit owners feed their rabbits fresh hay as well. Rabbits will also eat weeds, such as dandelions and goldenrod, and some wild rabbits living in dry or desert areas have even been known to consume shrubs and cacti. As a rabbit grows, its diet is heavily influenced by the plants and foods its mother consumed at the time of weaning.

    Fresh Vegetables

    • Rabbits often consume fresh vegetables and herbs straight from the garden. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, cilantro and basil help keep a wild rabbit hydrated and help it digest its high-fiber food. Fruits such as wild berries, and vegetables such as carrots that have a high starch content, are only good for a rabbit in small quantities; too much starch and sugar can cause an intestinal disease known as cecal dysbiosis.

    Feeding During Winter

    • In the winter, when fresh, moist grasses and vegetables are scarce, rabbits will eat twigs and tree buds, and even strip the bark off fruit trees for fiber and nutrients. Too much of this can cause damage to lawns, gardens and a rabbit's sensitive digestive tract. To protect your trees and keep wild rabbits healthy at the same time, leave hay outside occasionally during cold winter months. Wild cottontail rabbits are also coprophagic, meaning they will consume their own feces to absorb nutrients when necessary.

    Feeding Times

    • Rabbits are natural prey for many carnivorous animals such as cats, foxes, dogs and hawks. Rabbits avoid feeding in open grasslands or in the middle of yards where they can be spotted easily by predators. They prefer to feed on grass and weeds growing along the edges. They also avoid eating during daylight hours, when they are more likely to be visible. Rabbits typically come out to feed at dawn and dusk.