Baby bunnies - personality plus!

[MoonRiver]

I just have to share my observations :D

We have a very dense landscaped area in front of our house, which is a perfect small animal habitat. One day I looked out my window and saw two baby bunnies nursing their mother. One of them seemed to really be going at it. Suddenly mom bolted away (I suspect the aggressive baby bit her). The little critter ran likkety split after mom, but obviously couldn't keep up with her. So for several days we saw both babies in the bushes, chomping away at leaves, grass, playing with each other, etc.

I always noticed that one was much more active than the other. He (I began to believe it's a boy) was very "hyperactive" if you will. Darting here and there, running around the yard way beyond his safe dense birth place, and instigating the calmer one (a female?) to charge around with (him). Finally he ran away all together.

I didn't see him for weeks. Meanwhile I had been establishing a kind of relationship with the more laid back (normal) behaving one who continued to reside harmoniously in the bushes. I left her grass seed to eat, and talked with her enough that she lets me get very close and even looks at me, wiggling her ears, as I talk. (When I first got really close to her I could see she still had some baby fuzz (awwww).)

Today, the crazy baby showed up again. I saw him as he manically ran back and forth across their habitat (just like old times :eyes:). He also kept running past the calm one, instigating her to chase after him in play. I was terrified he was going to run in the street in an impulsive moment and the other one would follow after. So I have been at the curb of our street shooing them back into the bushes whenever I see him or both of them getting close to danger.

I always thought of bunnies as having pretty generic in personalities. If fact I didn't think any of them had much personality at all. They're adorable, but individual personalities? Give me a break. That was before.

The characteristics I have noticed in my front yard bunnies is amazing. They interact with each other almost like human siblings. The crazy one definitely demonstrates signs of hyperactivity. He is also impulsive and seeks stimulation. The other one is more laid back and responds to human attention. I believe the hyperactive one will probably run off soon as he doesn't seem to be able to stay in one spot very long He may come back to "visit" sis periodically, but that guy is definitely a wanderer. Mom has been back a couple of times (that I've noticed) to check on babies, but she hasn't been around for awhile. The quiet one was the only baby in residence when I saw mom, but she was probably reassured that at least one of her kids is still happy and safe. Maybe she even knows that an alien surrogate mom is keeping an eye on things.
;)

[liontamer]

1. this thread is useless without pictures n/t

[LynneSin]

2. Here they are crusing in their pink convertible car!

[LadyoftheRabbits]

3. That has to be...

The cutest thing I've ever seen. :D Awwwww!

[Arugula Latte]

4. Good gawd!

That's not playing fair.

*Thunk* (collapses from cuteness poisoning)

[liontamer]

9. goodness!

Are they old enough to drive?

[Hand]

5. Oh. Well, here y'go. Baby bunnies.

Not those particular baby bunnies, but none the less...

[liontamer]

10. thanks

they're all in a little row.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. Bunnies definitely have individual personalities

Elfie, the white/silver one, is very lazy (hence she's a chubby bunny). She spends a lot of time laying around, but when she plays, she truly beats up on her toys. She also doesn't like to be picked up or held and kind of freaks out, but she loves to be pet. She'll sit on your lap, getting pet, and returning the favor by licking your hands.

Darwin, the reddish brown one, is very active (and a skinny bunny). He's like a bunny on speed. He'll spend a lot of time zipping back and forth and doing aerial spins when not in the cage. However, he also doesn't mind being held and he'll even let you hold him on his back, cradled like a baby. He also enjoys being pet, but he doesn't lick as much.

The two of them aren't related, but are about the same age and we bought them together. They're completely devoted to each other and spend a lot of time grooming each other. Sometimes one of them will even sleep with their head resting on the other one.

[u4ic]

7. More cute bunnies

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. I too thought that bunnies were...

cute and cuddly, but not much in the personality department. Was I wrong! My sister is a widllife rehaber who speciales in hares and rabbits -- she also recues domestic buns.

I have seen hundreds of bunnies over the years now, and hand-raised a litter of wild cottontails myself -- they are SOOOOO individual and unique. My favorite is watching them scream around the room at top speed, turning on a dime, and doing "binkies" -- an acrobatic jump that means that bunny is happy.

Here's a few fun shots from my sister's website:


















My sister Just rescued a pair of weeks-old sisters over the weekend -- they aren't even as big as a peach. What cuties! They've been playing around the house and scaring the cats! It is hysterical to see a tiny little fluffy bunny run up to my 20+ pound, one-eyed monster cat Jack and have him run away in terror!

[MoonRiver]

11. Thanks for the pics and bunny stories!

I'll try to take a picture of my babies tomorrow, and post. Might only be able to get one though. Mom was back tonight checking things out. Babies were chomping on grass and other yummies. They don't even run off when we walk out of the door to take the dog for a walk. No fear!

:loveya: bunnies!