The Language of Lagomorphs: Part Two

By Chandra Beal

This article is a continuation of last week's piece on how to interpret rabbit language.

• Thumping: When a rabbit stamps its hind foot, it means he's frightened, mad, or trying to tell you that there's danger. Maia thumps when I set her down after trimming her nails to say, “I don’t like that!” Sometimes she thumps when I burn toast. And sometimes she thumps for what I perceive to be no reason at all. Rabbits have acute senses. The other night Maia thumped and I got out of bed and saw a raccoon in our yard. Although she was safe inside the house, she perceived the danger without even seeing the raccoon. Contrary to Disney’s portrayal of rabbits in Bambi, rabbits don’t thump repetitively but give one, loud stamp of the foot.
• Nipping: Ouch! Every bunny companion has probably been nipped at one time or another. It’s important to remember that rabbits are not mean or aggressive by nature. They only bite when they feel threatened, and that could mean they don’t have secure footing, or they’ve been startled, or they just want to be left alone. The nip is a quick warning bite. Some nipping should be tolerated, such as when you’re trimming nails. Don’t react and drop the rabbit! Rabbits can be taught that nipping is not acceptable by uttering a quick, high-pitched “Ouch!” The rabbit can relate this sound to experiencing pain. Be patient. Maia used to nip me whenever I picked her up for health care, but soon learned that I would not hurt her (and that her nipping hurt me) and stopped.
• Teeth Grinding and Chattering: There are two kinds of tooth noise. One indicates contentment, like a cat's purr. You can feel and see the cheeks vibrate rhythmically. The other is a loud grinding or scraping and can indicate pain. Body language will tell you the difference. If you are petting your rabbit and she is relaxed and chattering, she’s probably happy. If she’s hunched in a corner and flinches when touched, she may be in pain.
• Tail Twitching: I like to think of this as the rabbit equivalent of sticking out your tongue. It’s a rapid back-and-forth movement of the tail, usually while they’re hopping away. This is the rabbit’s way of being sassy. They’re saying, “You can’t make me!” I see tail twitching when I’m chasing a rabbit that does not want to be caught, or when I’m cleaning their cage.
• Hair Pulling: If your female rabbit is plucking hair from her chest, she is preparing to build a nest for babies. She may be pregnant, of if she’s already spayed, she could be experiencing a false pregnancy induced by the proximity to an un-neutered male. Either way, she needs attention from a veterinarian.
• Nudging Nose: Rabbits will butt you with their heads or noses to indicate a variety of things. Usually it means, “move over” or “get out of my way.” Sometimes it means, “stop petting me” or even “don’t stop petting me.” Again, knowing your rabbit’s personality, habits and body language will help you understand what their nudges mean.
• REM Sleep: Have you ever watched a rabbit dozing and noticed their eyes and cheeks twitching, and their heads drooping off to one side? They’re dreaming! The facial movements are indicative of “rapid eye movement”, or the stage in which they achieve a deep sleep and dream, just like humans. The best thing you can do is let them be, and wonder what they’re dreaming about.
• Happy Feet: A happy, relaxed rabbit will often lay on its stomach with the forepaws and hind legs stretched out. From above they look like they are flying, or they are flat as can be. Sometimes rabbits lay with their legs extended out but more to the side, as opposed to the hunched position when all limbs are tucked under the body. This just indicates a happy rabbit. For a prey animal that must be constantly on guard against danger, happy feet is a great indication that the rabbit feels comfortable and safe in their environment.
• Grooming: Rabbits groom each other, and their humans, to show affection. A rabbit licking your hand or face is a high compliment. The rabbit is saying, “Thank you. I love you.” Humans can “groom” rabbits back by nuzzling their face with the fingers or your cheeks and nose, or simply through brushing and petting.
• Ear Movement: Rabbits just wouldn’t be rabbits without those fabulous ears. Rabbit hearing is extremely sensitive, and acts like a radar of what’s happening in the environment. Even while rabbits sleep, their ears are on duty. If the ears are pointed forward, they are tuning in to something. If they lay back on the head, they are defensive and ready to attack. There are many combinations in between. One ear may point up while the other hangs down, as if they are half listening.

As you can see, rabbits have a common language that expresses a wide range of feelings and thoughts. Individual rabbits develop a distinct language with their human and animal families that you will easily learn if you pay attention. Turn off the TV and turn on the Rabbit Channel!

About the Author:

Chandra Moira Beal is a 30 year-old writer who lives in Austin, Texas. Chandra grew up in Santa Cruz, California and moved to Austin in 1991 after visiting a friend there and falling in love with the area. She has a bachelor's degree in music theory from Concordia University. Although she has no formal education in writing per se, she has been writing since she can remember. She bases most of her work on her life experiences.

She has contributed articles to a variety of animal welfare publications, including Hoppenings (House Rabbit Resource Network newsletter), In a Nutshell (newsletter of the Squirrel Lover's Club), ASPCA's Animal Watch (reprinted 6 times), and the Bunny Thymes (Canadian newsletter). Chandra also wrote and self-published a guidebook to swimming in Central Texasbook, Splash Across Texas!

Chandra may be contacted by email at laluna@io.com.

Article courtesy of Suite101.com.