Rabbits are hyperactive creatures. They love to hop, run, and zoom around their place. In this regard, squirrels are similar to rabbits. Whenever you cross a park, you notice a bunch of squirrels running around and climbing trees.
It is a sweet sight to see. It makes you wonder if rabbits and squirrels will get along as pals. They have plenty of hobbies in common. They love to eat, run and hop from one place to another. However, rumor has it that squirrels tend to attack poor rabbits. So, do squirrels eat rabbits?
Yes, some squirrels will eat rabbits under exceptional circumstances. Squirrels will eat anything if the food is scarce. They are omnivores when they have to be. When squirrels see a rabbit running, they do not see playtime but hunting time.
Squirrels and bunnies make good friends while they are young. They will cuddle, snuggle, play, eat, and groom each other. However, that is not the case with adult squirrels.
Adult squirrels, if hungry, will eat their young bunny friend without blinking twice. If you are a concerned bunny parent, keep reading to learn more about your furry friend’s safety!
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Rabbits vs. Squirrels
Squirrels and rabbits have many similarities. For example, they are both furry and cute! People keep pets for many reasons. A dog is preferred to guard a house, and cats to eliminate a mouse. However, animals like birds, rabbits, and squirrels are kept chiefly as stress relievers and snuggle buddies.
Rabbits and squirrels are nonaggressive animals. As prey animals, they mostly rely on plants and nuts as their diet. You rarely see a rabbit or squirrel attacking an animal for fighting, dominance, or eating. However, bunnies are strictly herbivores, and squirrels are not.
Squirrels are adaptable animals that can switch their eating habits with the availability in the environment. If a squirrel has been hungry for quite some time and cannot find any plants or nuts to devour, it will begin hunting smaller animals.
As baby bunnies are born, they are the most fragile animals, with less experience in motor movement. It makes them easy prey for a fully-grown squirrel on a rampage.
A squirrel can run at the speed of 24kph max, while a baby rabbit cannot run at all. Furthermore, a giant rabbit has a speed of 12kph. Both these rabbits can be an excellent food source for a starving squirrel.
Should Rabbits and Squirrels Live Together?
Rabbits and squirrels tend to get along only at a young age. Kids do not have an aggressive streak in them as much as adults. Animal babies are the same. In a jungle, all animal babies tend to get along. It is when they grow up into adults that they realize the hierarchy.
As the law of the jungle, rabbits and squirrels can be best buddies as young. It will be a pretty sight every day if you decide to raise a baby squirrel and a baby bunny together.
These cute animals will love each other as siblings. You will observe your squirrel and rabbit groom each other. They will also eat, play, run, hop and chase each other.
This sweet sight will only last for so long. Once your furry friends start to mature, you will notice a change in their behavior. Squirrels grow up faster than rabbits. There will come a time when your baby rabbit will live with an adult squirrel.
That is where the trouble starts. The squirrel will try to dominate your bunny rabbit; if too hungry, it will bite and eat it.
Keeping squirrels and rabbits in the same space is not an excellent idea. There is plenty that can go wrong. A squirrel will always try to harm your rabbit when it reaches maturity.
It is playtime for them when two rabbits are running and hopping together. However, when it comes to squirrels, watching a rabbit run, it thinks of the hunt.
For a squirrel, it is challenging to see a bunny running. If the food is scarce in the squirrel’s area, it will adapt for survival and crave meat.
Young rabbits make perfect lunchtime as they do not have the strength and power to fight back. It is best to keep your baby rabbit safe and away from squirrels.
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Why Would A Squirrel Attack A Rabbit?
No relationship is black and white; there is always a grey area. Many people have had a pleasant experience seeing a rabbit and a squirrel interact. Most have observed these creatures play tag or groom each other.
However, there are worse cases too. People have reported squirrels scratching, biting, and even eating bunnies. Squirrels are highly adaptable creatures. If it feels unsafe or threatened, it will change its traditional way of surviving the situation. Wild squirrels rely on nature to feed them.
When the squirrels notice a food scarcity in their environment, they become meat lovers to eat any smaller animals on the premises. If you have trees in your backyard with squirrels living in them, take precautions for when your pet rabbit goes out roaming.
Squirrels will attack a rabbit for various reasons. These could be:
Competition
The squirrel can feel threatened by a rabbit, especially if the rabbit is an adult.
Territorial
The rabbit and squirrel share an area. Squirrels are territorial animals and like to mark their things.
Scarcity
If a squirrel has not eaten for a couple of days and has difficulty looking for plant-based food, it will look for meat. Rabbits, birds, and other smaller animals are a perfect target for a poor starving squirrel.
Playfulness
There is a chance that a squirrel is just trying to be friendly with your bunny rabbit. The idea of play is different for each animal. Squirrels can attack, bite and eat a rabbit for fun.
How To Prevent Squirrels from Attacking Bunny Rabbits?
As a pet owner, you are responsible for giving your precious little bunny rabbit the best life. Rabbits often get lonely if they do not have a furry friend to share their life. Most pet owners decide to get two rabbits, a doe and a buck, to avoid their precious pet’s boredom and mating issues. However, many people sometimes get a different furry friend for their rabbits to mix things up.
If you decide to get a rabbit while having squirrels around or in your house, there are a few precautionary measures you should consider:
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Provide Enough Food
Food scarcity is one of the most common reasons why a squirrel will attack a cute little bunny rabbit. You cannot stop squirrels from roaming around in your big trees if you have a backyard.
However, you can prevent them from attacking your squirrel. You should research what a squirrel loves to eat and put some out for your furry visitors. If the strolling squirrels find food on your premises, they are unlikely to attack your poor bunny at lunchtime or dinnertime.
Furthermore, you must do the same if you decide to get a pet squirrel as a buddy for your bunny. Give both pets equal food, love, and attention to avoid creating a sense of competition. If your pet squirrel has its source of energy and food, it will not try to eat its bunny friend.
Protect The Hutch
You can take plenty of safety measures to ensure your precious bunny rabbit is safe and sound. A domesticated rabbit will not have the necessary skills and instincts to fight or run away from a predator. That is where you come in as a responsible pet owner.
Here are a few things you can use to create a safe space for your rabbit:
- Hardware cloth
- Chicken wire
- Plastic bird wire
Place these around your fragile furry friend’s hutch and play area to prevent squirrels and other predators from entering.
Use Strong Scents
Squirrels do not like strong scents and tend to avoid areas with certain aromas. You should apply thyme or cinnamon essence to repel squirrels around your rabbit’s area.
Final Words
The safety of your precious rabbit is solely your responsibility. Bunnies are voiceless and fragile creatures. A tiny bit of threat in their atmosphere can trigger their anxiety and stress them.
You should do everything possible to ensure your bunny’s safety and health. Take extra care of your rabbit when you notice squirrels in your backyard or have one as a pet. Check your bunny regularly for injuries and bit marks.
Keep a sharp eye on your bunny’s behavior and look for signs of fear and added anxiety. Your pets rely on you for their lives, always prepare for the worst-case scenarios to avoid disappointing and endangering your pet.