Wild bunnies are small, adaptable mammals found across much of the globe. They successfully occupy a vast range of climates and landscapes, from arid scrublands to lush temperate forests and suburban lawns. Their presence is a testament to their behavioral and biological flexibility. Understanding where these creatures live requires examining the different types of wild rabbits and the specific shelters they build.
Defining the Wild Rabbit
The world of wild lagomorphs is divided into two main groups: rabbits and hares, both belonging to the family Leporidae. Hares, such as the jackrabbit, are generally larger with longer ears and legs, built for speed in open environments. They do not dig burrows, instead relying on camouflage and a simple surface nest.
True rabbits, including the European Rabbit and Cottontail species, have a more compact body structure. The difference in their young dictates their housing strategy. Young hares are born precocial, meaning they are fully furred and mobile shortly after birth. In contrast, young rabbits, or kits, are born altricial—blind, hairless, and helpless—requiring the secure, insulated shelter of an underground den for survival. This biological difference drives the architectural complexity of a rabbit’s home compared to a hare’s simple nest.
Diverse Global Habitats
Wild rabbits and hares occupy nearly every continent except Antarctica, spanning environments from deserts to arctic tundra. Their habitat selection is guided by the need for accessible food sources and nearby cover for predator evasion. Grasslands and meadows are common habitats, providing abundant forage and open sightlines to spot threats.
Different species have adapted to specific niches. The European Rabbit thrives in areas with well-drained soil that is easy to excavate, such as dunes and open woodlands. Species like the Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) are adapted to the arid sagebrush steppe, relying on dense shrubs for food and protective cover. Many rabbits also inhabit human-modified landscapes, including suburban gardens, parks, and agricultural fields where thick vegetation offers refuge.
The Architecture of a Rabbit Home
The type of shelter a wild rabbit uses depends on its species and environment, ranging from complex underground networks to minimal surface depressions. The European Rabbit constructs the most elaborate home: an interconnected system of tunnels called a warren. A warren is a multi-entrance burrow system that provides protection from predators and temperature extremes, containing specific chambers for nesting, sleeping, and raising young.
The nursery chamber within the warren is lined with soft material, often grass and fur, to insulate the kits. Cottontail rabbits typically do not dig extensive burrows. Instead, they create a simple nest known as a “form,” which is a shallow depression scraped into the ground and concealed beneath dense vegetation or brush piles. This surface shelter is sufficient because cottontails rely on freezing or quick dashes into cover rather than a deep underground refuge.
Habitat and Survival
The habitat a rabbit chooses dictates access to nutrition and the success of predator avoidance. Rabbits are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the low-light conditions of dawn and dusk. This behavioral adaptation allows them to forage when many predators are less active. Since their diet consists almost exclusively of herbaceous plants, they must establish their homes close to abundant food sources.
Proximity to cover is important, as rabbits are a primary prey species for carnivores and raptors. Successful habitats feature a tight interspersion of food and protective cover, such as dense shrubbery or brush piles, allowing quick retreat from danger. For social species, like the European Rabbit, the warren provides a communal refuge. The multiple entrances ensure alternate escape routes are available if one exit is blocked by a predator.