Understanding Bunny Behavior

     To say bunnies are misunderstood is an understatement. In the 300 years since they were 'domesticated', they have been used as product testers in the cosmetic and toiletry industries, skinned for pelts by the fashion industries,  had feet cut off by the novelty industry ('lucky rabbit's foot' key rings and such), used as bait by hunters, bred and sold by the rabbit breed associations, used as food, and forced to accept one another under cramped stressful conditions to prompt unity bonds. None of these practices have undertaken to appreciate and understand them. Few documentaries film them. Limited books explain them beyond the simple care 101 starter manuals in which they are presented as needed just basic fulfillment; food, water, shelter. Their complex language, intellect, and abilities are overlooked and understudied. Being prey animals, observing the scope of their lifestyle in the wild is difficult. Being reclusive, hiding most of the time, makes it almost impossible to study them. Hares and wild cottontails are two species from which house rabbits behavior emulates. Although able to live in houses with plush amenities, their primal behavior is still the driving force. 
        Unlike dogs and cats who have long tails, wide broad mouths, and extended legs to express feelings, rabbits have eyes that pin, short scuts, and a variety of body positions. Breaking the code of their language is pivotal to learning what makes them tick. Beyond the binkies, zoomies, licking, and frolicking which most know to convey happiness, lies subtle nuances like eye pinning, licking, neck positioning, body displacement, nosing, and chinning; to name a few. Nosing, otherwise known as booping in the bunny community, is fascinating. What does it mean when a bunny places the underneath side of their mouth onto something while making a quick rubbing motion? The answer lies in the science, physiology to be accurate, Bunnies, like people are reliant on their endocrine system to regulate moods including hunger, fatigue, happiness, anger, water ratios, blood pressure and sugar, reproduction, growth, and responses to physical injuries and mental stressors. The endocrine is the internal regulatory system made up of organs and glands that allow hormones to enter bloodstreams which transfers information to different parts of the body, including brain and organs, tissues, muscles, etc. Each time a bunny rubs their chin against a person or object, they transfer scents which they can smell each time they come in contact again. The scents left by bunnies convey possession, territory markers, friendliness, hostility, indications of health and happiness, invitations to mate, fondness and aversion, and much more. How does a person know what each chinning means? Only through context clues can that be determined. If a bunny chins and quickly hops away, chins something else and hops away, repeating this a few times, they are marking boundary for others as well as giving them a road map. If a bun chins a person and stays close by, chances are they are affirming your relationship and requesting attention. If chinning an object occurs, the way the bunny acts before and after indicates the meaning. Of all the intricate behaviors, chinning is most similar to what cats do, releasing hormones found in cheeks. They often do this as often and for the same reasons as bunnies which is interesting given cats are predators and rabbits are prey.