Quick Take
- Rabbits don't just dig for shelter. There's a specific survival move they make in summer that most people have never seen. See the survival move →
- Shade alone isn't enough for a rabbit to beat the heat, so their approach goes a step further than that. See how they beat the heat →
- The spot a rabbit chooses to dig matters more than the digging itself, and the reason behind that choice is smarter than you'd expect. See why location matters →
- That shallow hole a rabbit digs serves more than one purpose, with cooling down being just the beginning. See the scrape's full purpose →
With the heat of summer steadily rising, we’re all doing our best to stay cool—not just humans, but wild animals too. For example, rabbits have their own way of coping with the heat by digging down into the cooler soil underground. This Instagram post by @coolbarrels shows a rabbit making its bed, and it’s cuter than you’d think. Read here to learn more.
To stay cool in the summer, rabbits spend time in scrapes or burrows to avoid the sun.
©Sumaira35/Shutterstock.com
How Rabbits Cool Down
The video is an interesting look at how rabbits spend their free time. While it’s common knowledge that rabbits dig burrows in the ground to rest and nest in, they also form something called a scrape. Scrapes are shallow holes in the ground that rabbits use as comfortable resting spots. The rabbit in the video above demonstrations what digging a scrape looks like, as it pushes away and packs down loose soil. Rabbits create these holes for a few reasons. It may be the start of a full burrow or a temporary place to relax. However, in the video above, the rabbit is digging a shallow den to cool down.
Rabbits have thick coats of fur that make hot weather extremely uncomfortable. To help lower their body temperature, rabbits lay in self-made scrapes. A small hole in the ground can provide insulation from the heat and protection from predators. The soil just beneath the surface is likely to be cooler and more comfortable Sometimes the location of the scrape is most important. The rabbit in the video was smart enough to choose a shady location, making it the perfect place for protection from the sun’s harsh rays. Overall, the rabbit is trying to avoid overheating in the scorching summer temperatures.
