The Rabbit
(Coinín) Rabbits live together in groups of burrows called a warren. Each doe has an average of ten babies a year. They could have five litters in one year. More than sixty rabbits may live in a warren. A new born baby has no fur. Their eyes are closed and they cannot hear. Female rabbits line their nests with grass and fur. Rabbits eat grass, roots, bark and other plants.
One of the rabbit's main enemies is the fox. Rabbits are also hunted by stoats. They are often hunted by people for their meat and also for their fur. There are various colours of rabbits but light brown is the most common. This helps to camouflage them from their predators. Rabbits are active mostly at night. Birds of prey hunt them - the white underside of its tail is always visible when it runs away. Rabbits were first introduced to Ireland by the Normans. They used to hunt them for food and for their fur.
By Glenn O'Rourke and Jonathan Abbey.
