Rabbits are hyperactive animals. If you have a pet rabbit or love animal videos, you must have seen bunnies hopping and zooming around the place.
A rabbit can jump up to 3 feet on average, which means your rabbit can hop on your bed, tables, and shelves.
A rabbit’s average jump height does not stop it from climbing higher places. If a rabbit has access to steps towards a higher goal, the animal can climb almost anything. So, can rabbits climb trees?
Yes, rabbits can climb trees with aid from the environment. Rabbits can climb higher places by jumping onto other lower-heightened objects. Bunnies do not commonly climb trees, and when they do, it is often a short tree.
Climbing is not an unusual behavior for a rabbit. As hoppers, these furry animals climb many things in their daily routine. Climbing a tree, however, is an odd thing. Every rabbit is different; some rabbits might climb trees out of habit. Scroll through the text to learn more about a rabbit’s tree-climbing activity!
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How Do Rabbits Climb A Tree?
Rabbits do not have sharp claws like cats. Often, a cat owner has to call the firefighters to get their cat out of a tree. Cats have strong claws that help them climb a tall tree within seconds. They do it for fun. On the other hand, rabbits are feeble animals.
Bunnies have tiny front paws. They have long hind legs that help them leap far distances. Due to their anatomy, rabbits are great at jumping horizontally than vertically.
However, if a rabbit can get something to attach its little paws to, it can climb a tree. Imagine a rock climbing wall; a rabbit can climb anything that looks a bit like that. Of course, a rabbit can hold on to the tiniest of pieces, so we might not be able to see the steps it clings on.
Rabbits are more likely to climb a tree that is short or has lots of low branches. A rabbit’s climb is a series of massive jumps and landings.
If you notice your rabbit climbing a tree, you will see that it jumps and hold a piece of bark or sits on a branch to hop to another one. To make your bunny stop climbing trees, you can cut the low branches and ensure the bark is smooth for your bunny to grab.
Why Does A Rabbit Climb A Tree?
Rabbits do not often like to climb trees as too much height can increase their anxiety. On average, a rabbit can jump up to 3 feet, depending on the breed.
So, a bunny will be comfortable jumping on a tree with a landing on 3 feet. However, this does not mean your rabbit will not climb a tree taller than 3 feet.
A rabbit will climb a tree for three main reasons:
Danger
Rabbits are prey animals. They are small in size, and they know their vulnerabilities. In the wild, rabbits climb to avoid predators, making wild animals better climbers than domestic animals. However, a pet rabbit will try climbing a tree if it senses danger.
When your bunny plays outside in the backyard and feels threatened by the ground, it will jump to hold the bark and climb a tree. Rabbits cannot raise their head to look up. Climbing a tree gives your rabbit a better chance to look out for itself.
Food Scarcity
A starving bunny will go to many extents for food. Rabbits do not know what is good or bad for them. Rabbits are herbivores and love to eat plants. However, when starving, bunnies can eat insects and smaller animals to remove their hunger. Climbing a tree for food should not be a surprise.
Curiosity
When you first bring your pet rabbit to its new home, it will seem shy and sacred. Once your bunny senses your home is safe, it will zoom all over the place. Bunnies are curious creatures and love to explore everything they can see.
If you have any trees in your backyard, your bunny will try to climb them to see the world better, especially if it has a bit of verticle bark.
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How Does Climbing A Tree Benefit My Bunny?
Bunny rabbits love to munch on anything that grows in the soil. Although not all trees make great treats, some are sweet for your precious furry friend.
If you have a tame rabbit that you adore, it is best to keep your bunny off trees as they can pose significant threats to your rabbit due to their height and, at times, poisonous nature.
Even though some trees can cause harm to your rabbit’s health when eaten, a few bring good things too. Here are a few benefits your bunny can achieve by climbing trees:
- Some trees have delicious-tasting bark that your rabbit will love to munch on as a treat.
- Rabbits have ever-growing teeth that your rabbit can only trim by eating crunchy foods. When your rabbit eats a tree’s branches or bark, the parts of trees play a role of a trimmer for your precious furry friend. Overgrown teeth can cause severe health issues for your bunny.
- It can be a good exercise for your rabbit. Bunnies are not climbers by nature, but if the tree is short and slanting, there is no harm in letting your bunny kill its curiosity of seeing the world from a higher point. Rabbits require at least 4 hours of exercise daily. Climbing a tree will be great for your rabbit’s health and mood.
What Trees Are Safe for Your Rabbit To Climb?
Not all trees will benefit your rabbit. Many trees, like stone fruit trees, can be harmful and poisonous to your rabbit. If your rabbit eats a tree that is not healthy, your bunny will suffer from illnesses like GI stasis, poisoning, and even death.
As a pet owner, you need to be careful of trees. It is best to know which tree is okay for your bunny to eat and which is not. Here is a list of trees your rabbit can munch on:
- Hazelwood
- Apple
- Birch
- Maple
- Hawthorn
- Pear
- Spruce trees
Above mentioned trees are a few that are safe for your rabbit to eat. If your rabbit is climbing a plant, chances are it will eat it, so it is better to be safe than sorry.
Is It Safe for A Rabbit To Climb A Tree?
Heights are never safe for rabbits as they are fragile creatures that are highly unlikely to survive a fall. Rabbits can hop 3-4 feet in the air, so anything higher than that range can be dangerous for your precious furry friend.
Furthermore, a slanting tree is safer than a fully erected one. As rabbits hop from one place to another, their climbing technique is more of a high hop than a vertical crawl. A slanting tree will have more places to land for your rabbit.
Many trees are toxic for your pet to taste. Having an immense knowledge of all the trees can be challenging for you, which makes it unsafe for your rabbit to climb a random tree.
Accidents happen all the time. You can mistake a tree for being safe when it is not. It can have dire consequences for you and your poor bunny rabbit.
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Give Your Bunny An Alternative for A Tree
If you notice that your rabbit likes to climb trees and you are scared of something terrible happening, do not stop your bunny; give it an alternative to a tree. There are plenty of DIY climbing toys that you can introduce to your rabbit.
You may need help finding the perfect climbing toy for your rabbit in the market, as climbing is a rare hobby for bunnies. However, you can create the perfect climbing toy with cardboard boxes!
The boxes can serve as steps for your rabbit to climb to the very top. Ensure that the toy is surrounded with soft landings like cushions or foamed carpets to avoid unwanted injuries.
Final Words
Rabbits are fascinating creatures, and each breed is unique in its way. Some rabbits love to climb, while others are shy of heights. Observe your rabbit’s climbing needs and provide the best solution for your precious furry friend.
As a pet owner, you are responsible for your rabbit’s well-being. If you have trees in your backyard, know where they come from, their type, their harms, and their benefits for your rabbit. If you have a dangerous tree, shift it somewhere else where your rabbit cannot reach it or prevent your bunny from going outside.
Give your bunny perfectly safe climbing toys to avoid any health hazards. Your bunny requires your utmost attention, even when playing on its own. Do not leave your rabbit alone outdoors; have fun watching your bunny hop from one place to another.
