Rabbits: Pets or pests?

CEBU, Philippines -  Happy New Year, Kid Stuffarians!

According to the Chinese calendar, 2011 is the Year of the Metal Rabbit. I don’t want to overemphasize on this information, though, because as a Christian, believing in zodiac signs offends our jealous God. Remember when He gave the Law to Moses, He clearly said: “You shall have no other gods before me.”

However, because there are questions raised as to what makes rabbits special, here are the fast facts: Because they are less aggressive mammals, rabbits are being raised in many countries as pets.

Says helium.com, “bunnies are fun, affectionate creatures who love company. All rabbits behave differently though. There are those docile and sweet, while some bite, hate to be picked up, chew through wires and rarely consent to be petted.”

“They will nudge your hand with their nose or gently nip you. When you stroke them, they may roll over onto their back, showing how completely relaxed they are,” this was also learned.

But because rabbits have the “capability to reproduce so quickly and consume so much foliage”, they are sometimes considered pests too.

According to wisegeek.com, the standard example of this case is that of the European rabbit in Australia, which has displaced many native species.

By the way, a rabbit can never be interchanged with a hare. Here’s the explanation from diffen.com: Hares are generally larger and faster than rabbits; hares have longer ears and larger feet than rabbits; they have long and strong hind legs more than rabbits; they have black markings on their fur; rabbits have young that are born blind and hairless. In contrast, hares are generally born with hair and are able to see. Young hares are therefore able to fend for themselves very quickly after birth.

A young hare is called a leveret while a young rabbit is called a kitten or a bunny.

What to feed your rabbits?

Carrots? Yes, if you’re raising either Bugs Bunny or Roger.

However, it’s not carrots all the way. According to bio.miami.edu, “perhaps the most important staple for rabbits is hay. However, if you don’t have this in your locality, rabbits could be fed fresh, moist greens as these are about as important as hay in maintaining healthy intestines.”

Those raising rabbits are advised to try broccoli, dark leaf lettuces, kale, parsley, carrots (with tops!), dill, basil, mint, cilantro, spinach, tomato, celery (cut up into an inch-thick to avoid problems with the tough strings getting stuck on the molars).

“Almost any green, leafy vegetable that’s good for you (including fresh-grown garden herbs such as tarragon and various mints, with the exception of Pennyroyal) are good for a rabbit. Experiment and see which types your rabbit likes best. Rabbits love fragrant herbs fresh from the garden.”

“Give starchy vegetables (e.g., carrots) in moderation, and use bits of fruit only in very, very small quantities, as special treats. Too much sugar and starch can cause intestinal problems,” this came as a warning.