Survivor Skils

Here are what rabbits and hares do when they are being attacked and what their enemies are:

Rabbits Enemies:

Rabbits have many enemies in the wild. Their enemies include foxes, wolves, weasels, coyotes, rats, and snakes. Foxes my steal baby rabbits from their nests. Weasels might chase rabbits down their burrows, even through narrow tunnels.

Ground enemies are not the only ones rabbits have fear. They also have enemies from the air. Eagles and hawks, birds, owls swoop down on them from the sky. Rabbits are usually helpless against such attacks.

Because they have so many enemies, most rabbits do not survive more than a year in the wild. Pet rabbits, however, may live for five years or more! Yay! I have a pet rabbit! It is going to live longer! Yay!

Survivor Skills:

If an intruder comes near, rabbits and hares will flatten their ears and crouch close to the ground. If the danger comes nearer still, they flatten their bodies even further. In this position they look like a small rock.
When it appears that there is no escape from the discovery, the rabbit or hare explodes from its crouch, leaping two to four and a half metres from a standing point. It streaks away, hoping this way and that in a tricky zigzag pattern. This movement makes it very difficult for the predators to follow.

Although rabbits and hares are usually silent creatures, all of them are able to let out a terrible, ear-piercing scream when they are captured or in serious danger. This often results in their being quickly dropped by their startled attacker.

A rabbit uses all its senses to avoid danger. Its eyes are on the sides of its head, so it can see to the side, front, and even to the back-all the time!It can also see well at night.

A rabbit relies on its nose and ears, too. When it smells or hears danger, the rabbit sits up on its hind legs , straight and still. It's ears point upward and its nose twitches. This position might warn other rabbits in the area to be alert.

If the rabbit decides to hop away, it flashes its white tail at the enemy. This may confuse the predator and help the rabbit escape.

For safety, a rabbit stays near cover, such as a rock or bush. If an enemy gets too close, a rabbit hops quickly to its hiding spot.



Signed,
Kevin Ping-An Tang