Bunny on a Sled by a Cottage

About this drawing

A bunny on a sled belongs in a storybook, but real rabbits don't hibernate. They stay active all winter, even in deep snow, thanks to a few clever tricks.

First, their fur grows thicker as the weather turns cold. Some close relatives, like the snowshoe hare and the Arctic hare, go even further and trade brown coats for white ones in winter so they blend into the snow.

Second, shelter. European rabbits live in underground warrens full of tunnels and chambers, where the temperature stays steadier than above ground. Cottontails in North America often hide in brush piles and thickets. Huddling together helps them hold onto warmth.

Third, food. When grass is buried, rabbits switch to bark, twigs and buds from shrubs. They also squeeze every bit of nutrition from their meals by eating special soft droppings they produce, usually at night. It sounds odd, but it helps them get the most from tough winter food. Thanks to all these tricks, rabbits and hares keep hopping across snowy fields while many other animals sleep until spring. Their tracks in fresh snow, with two long prints in front and two small ones behind, are easy to recognize.

• bunny
• sled
• winter
• cozy
• animals