Wild rabbits readily eat blueberries if available, but the fruit is not a significant or beneficial part of their natural diet. Rabbits are attracted to the high sugar content of ripe fruit and consume them opportunistically when foraging. However, relying on fruit for nutrition poses significant health risks for a rabbit’s specialized digestive system. Understanding the difference between what a rabbit will eat and what it should eat is important for wildlife enthusiasts and gardeners.
Natural Diet and Foraging Habits
The foundational diet of a wild rabbit consists primarily of high-fiber vegetation, such as grasses, weeds, hay, and the bark of young trees. Rabbits are classified as hindgut fermenters, possessing a large organ called the cecum where microorganisms break down tough plant fibers. This microbial fermentation process relies on a constant supply of roughage to function correctly. A rabbit’s diet needs a fiber content of at least 20% to 25% to maintain proper gut health and motility.
The constant intake of fibrous material helps stimulate gut movement (peristalsis), which prevents the digestive system from slowing down. When foraging, rabbits select the most tender, nutrient-dense parts of plants and will consume fruits like blueberries when encountered. Berries are an accidental and seasonal find rather than a staple food source. The bulk of their energy and nutrients comes from the continuous digestion of grasses and forages.
Safety Implications of Fruit Consumption
Blueberries, like all fruits, contain natural sugars that can cause serious health complications for rabbits when consumed regularly or in large amounts. The rabbit digestive system is poorly equipped to handle high concentrations of sugar and starch. These simple carbohydrates pass into the cecum, causing an overgrowth of certain bacteria and leading to an imbalance in the gut’s delicate microbiome.
This microbial imbalance, known as gut dysbiosis, can result in excessive fermentation, producing toxins and leading to severe diarrhea or soft, uneaten cecotropes. The most serious potential outcome is gastrointestinal stasis, a life-threatening condition where the digestive tract slows down or stops moving. This slowdown is triggered by a lack of sufficient fiber and the disruption caused by high-sugar foods. Therefore, fruits, including blueberries, should be considered a very occasional treat and not a regular part of a rabbit’s diet.
Protecting Blueberry Plants from Wildlife
Gardeners must employ physical barriers to deter wild rabbits from damaging blueberry bushes. Rabbits often eat the tender stems and buds of the shrubs, especially during winter when other food sources are scarce. The most reliable protection involves installing fencing around the plants with the correct specifications.
A barrier made of chicken wire or hardware cloth should be at least 24 inches high to prevent rabbits from hopping over it. The fence material must also extend a few inches below the soil line or be securely pinned to the ground to discourage digging underneath. Using a small mesh size (half an inch or less) ensures that smaller rabbits cannot squeeze through the openings. While non-toxic taste and scent deterrents require frequent reapplication, especially after rain, robust physical fencing is the superior long-term solution.