VASQUEZ,+MADELINE

=Rabbits= By:Madeline Vasquez Period 3

=Table of Contents= 1........................................Introduction 2........................................What are Rabbits? 3........................................How long do Rabbits live? 4........................................What do they eat? 5........................................Where do they live? 6........................................How do you handle a rabbit? 7........................................Behavior 8........................................How much time does rabbit care take? 9........................................Conclusion 10......................................Bibliography

=Page 1= == =**Introduction**= Rabbits come in many species, sizes and colors. They also live in different places such as indoors as pets or outdoors in the wild. People usually have rabbits as pets to have for there families, or to have company. There are rabbits that live out in the wild and take care of themselves as much as they can from danger. Being such popular pets, owners may have questions about their rabbits such as, what are rabbits, how long do they live, what they eat,wher do they live, how do you handle a rabbit, there behavior and how much time does rabbit care take?

=Page 2= = = =What are Rabbits?= Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae. They are known for adorable, cute, lovable, social animals but there are many things to find out about them. Rabbits are different from bunnies, rabbits are smaller and more roundish than bunnies. The back legs of bunnies are longer, the body is bigger and the head form is more edged. Bunnies live in open hollows on the ground and therefore are not localy fixed. Bunnies weight of about 5 to 6 kg and rabbits weight is only about 2 kg.Bunnies live in open hollows on the ground and therefore are not localy fixed. Rabbits dig caves in the ground to stay and are of course localy fixed. A bunny and a rabbits social behavior are very different from each other. Rabbits live in familiy groups and bunnies tend to live single.Both rabbit and bunnies have strong teeth to chew on there food. A rabbits ears can measure up to 6 cm (more than 2 inches) long, rabbits have long, powerful hind legs and a short tail. Each foot has five digits (one reduced); rabbits move about on the tips of the digits in a fashion.

=Page 3= =How long do Rabbits live?= Most rabbits have an average life span of 7 to 12 years. They are clean animals that can easily be house trained, require little grooming and become affectionate companions. Rabbits kept out doors in backyard hutches have much lower age average. This is becuase a predator can make the rabbit panic and either injure itself or even die of shock. For a rabbit to live long and healthy, its diet must be right. Also you have to be taking it for check-ups and keeping it healthy.

=Page 4=  =What do they eat?= Rabbits are herbivores who feed by gazing on grass, fords and leafy weeds. Their diets contains large amounts of cellulose which is hard to digest. Rabbits solve this problem by passing two types of droppings, there are hard droppings and soft black pellets, then later which are eaten. Rabbits reingest their own droppings in order to fully digest their food and extract sufficients nutreients. Rabbits may eat carrots, lettuce, pellutes, corn, celary or just different kinds of vegetables and fruits.

=Page 5= =Where do they live?= If a rabbit is wild it could live in enviroments ranging from deserts to tropical forest and wetland. In the Eastern Hemisphere rabbits are found in Europe, portions of Central and Southern Africa, India and Japan. The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been introduced to many locations around the world, and all breeds of domestic rabbit originate from the European. Rabbits can also be kept as pets for families and children.

=Page 6=   =How do you handle a Rabbit?= Don't carry your rabbit for long periods. You will see that the rabbit will try to scratch or squirm if they don't feel like being held for long. You will need to first position one hand under the rabbits chest and then the other hand under the rabbits back legs. If the rabbit starts squirling, just pull it into your chest. Don't ever lift the rabbit by its ears or lift it too high. If it wiggles and manages to escape and fall, it could injure itself.

=Page 7= =Behavior= Many rabbits dig barrows, but cottontails and hispid hares do not. The European rabbit constructs the most extensive burrowsy systems, called warrens. They do this for shelter or family. It is the most socail rabbits that somtimes form groups in warrens up to 20 individuals. However, even in European rabbits social behavior can quite be flexible, depending on habitat and for other reasons. Most rabbits are relatively solitary and sometimes territorial, coming together only to breed or ocasionally to forage in small groups.

=Page 8= =How much time does Rabbit care take?= A rabbits cage needs cleaning out at least every second or third day for hygiene reasons. Rabbits themselves do not smell, rather their litter boxes are causing the ordor to stink. Rabbits like socailizing with people and other rabbits or animals,and if they are left alone they mite bored if they like being with people. They need their food when they are hungry at least twice a day with water. Like people we need are nails trimmed, so do rabbits every six weeks.

=Page 9= =Conclusion= Now that you have learned more about rabbits, this should help you in the future if youwant to have a rabbit. You learned, what are rabbits, how long they live, what they eat, where they live, how to handle rabbits, behavior and taking care of them.

=Page 10= =Bibliography=

 
 * [|www.Wikipedia.com/Rabbits]
 * [|www.hsus.org/pets]
 * [|www.rabbitweb.net]
 * [|www.carrotcafe.com]
 * [|www.hopperhome.com]