Rabbits are not just the cute, carrot-loving creatures depicted in popular culture. They can dig complex tunnels and even eat their feces. Here is some knowledge you should know about these adorable mammals:

1. They don't rely solely on carrots for sustenance:

In cartoons, rabbits often live in a world filled with carrots, but they don't typically eat root vegetables in the wild. They prefer consuming grasses like clover and weeds. While you can occasionally offer them carrots as a treat, be cautious not to overfeed them as carrots contain high sugar levels, which can lead to dental issues.

2. Rabbits eat their feces:

Rabbits digest fibrous materials primarily in their cecum through fermentation, and they excrete a soft type of feces called "cecotropes." These feces, also known as cecotropes or "night feces," are nutrient-rich. To avoid wasting nutrients, rabbits consume them to replenish the required nutrients in their bodies.

3. Their ears dissipate heat:

Rabbit ears are long and can rotate 270 degrees, mainly serving to listen to distant sounds and dissipate heat. However, rabbit ears are delicate and filled with nerves and blood vessels, so the correct way to handle a rabbit is not by its ears but by gently grasping the nape of its neck while supporting its hindquarters.

4. They live in meticulously crafted burrows:

Rabbits can dig intricate underground systems, also known as warrens, which consist of interconnected tunnels leading to chambers for sleeping and nesting. These burrows often have multiple entrances, allowing rabbits to escape in emergencies, and some caves can cover an area as large as a tennis court, extending up to 10 feet below ground.

5. Their mouths never stop:

Like human fingernails, rabbit teeth continue to grow. Due to the tough, abrasive nature of wild rabbit food, they will eventually wear down if their teeth don't grow continuously. Rabbit teeth grow at a rate of 5 inches per year, compensating for the wear and tear they experience. However, if pet rabbits don't eat enough abrasive foods, they may experience overgrowth of teeth, making it difficult for them to eat.

6. Rabbits groom themselves like cats:

Rabbits are very clean animals and groom themselves by licking their paws and fur, similar to cats. This means rabbits don't need regular baths like other pets.

7. "Breeding like rabbits" has some truth:

Rabbits are prolific breeders, typically starting to mate at 3 to 8 months old and capable of breeding for up to 8 months each year until they reach 9 to 12 years old. Female rabbits do not have a menstrual cycle; they ovulate in response to mating. With a gestation period of approximately 30 days, they can produce 4 to 12 baby rabbits in each litter.

8. Rabbits "binky" when happy:

If you spend enough time with rabbits, you may be lucky enough to witness one of the cutest behaviors: when rabbits are happy, they twist and jump in the air, a behavior known as "binkying."

9. They are challenging to catch:

Even when their eyes, ears, and powerful hind legs are insufficient for evading predators, rabbits rely on additional tactics. Cottontail rabbits can swiftly maneuver in open fields, making capturing difficult. They can reach speeds of up to 18 miles per hour.