Winter presents a challenging period for wild rabbits, who, unlike many other small mammals, do not hibernate or migrate. These lagomorphs must adapt quickly to lower temperatures, reduced food availability, and increased visibility due to the loss of vegetative cover. Their survival strategies involve physiological changes, resourceful foraging, and modifications to their daily routine to conserve energy.
Adapting to the Cold: Physical Changes and Shelter
As winter approaches, wild rabbits grow a significantly thicker and denser winter coat. This heavier fur provides a superior layer of insulation, trapping body heat close to the skin and minimizing thermal loss. The change in coat density allows them to remain active even during cold snaps. Some species, like the Snowshoe Hare, also change fur color from brown to white, providing camouflage against a snowy backdrop.
Wild rabbits employ several methods for shelter, relying on existing environmental structures rather than extensive new construction. Eastern cottontails utilize shallow depressions, known as “forms,” under dense brush piles or thickets. Other species, such as the European rabbit, use extensive warren systems, which are insulated by the surrounding earth and maintain a stable, warmer temperature. Heavy snow cover can also be used as insulation, where rabbits create tunnels beneath the surface to access food and remain protected from the wind and temperature extremes.
Finding Sustenance: Winter Diet and Foraging
The lush, green vegetation that forms the bulk of a rabbit’s warm-weather diet largely disappears, necessitating a dramatic shift in their food sources. Rabbits transition to a diet primarily composed of woody browse, including bark from young trees, dormant buds, and small twigs. This switch provides necessary energy to sustain them through the season. They may also forage for dried grasses, hay, or residual leafy material preserved beneath the snow or within dense cover.
To maximize nutrient absorption from this coarse winter diet, rabbits continue to consume their own cecotropes (specialized soft droppings). This behavior allows them to re-ingest partially digested material, extracting B vitamins and other nutrients synthesized by gut microbes. Foraging becomes energy-intensive during periods of deep snow, requiring them to dig and scratch to uncover food sources. Sustaining a positive energy balance is a constant challenge, often resulting in weight loss over the winter.
Changes in Daily Behavior and Activity
Wild rabbits modify their daily activity patterns during winter to conserve energy and reduce their exposure to predators. Their overall movement and activity levels are significantly reduced, especially during the harshest weather conditions. They spend more time huddled within their shelters, relying on their thick coats and the stable temperatures of their dens for warmth.
Rabbits maintain their crepuscular and nocturnal foraging habits, with activity peaking around sunrise and sunset. However, the duration of their foraging excursions is often shorter than in warmer months, reflecting the increased risk and energy cost of being exposed. The lack of dense summer foliage increases their vulnerability to predators, forcing them to utilize dense cover, brush piles, and established snow tunnels to move discreetly between their shelter and feeding areas.