How Long Rabbits Live & Litter Size
After a brief gestation period of 30 days, an adult female rabbit has a litter of around 10 babies. Newborn rabbits are blind, hairless, and helpless for the first two weeks of their lives. In less than a month, these pests are ready to forage on their own.
Once a rabbit is about six months old, it is able to breed. Since a healthy adult female can have up to six litters per year, the rabbit life cycle repeats rapidly in yards with plenty of food.
How Long Do Rabbits Live?
Rabbits can survive up to eight years, and they reproduce at a staggering rate. Not only do populations grow quite large, but rabbits can be a nuisance at almost any of their life cycle stages. Within a month, young rabbits may cause a variety of damage, including:
- Digging burrows in lawns
- Chewing bark from trees and shrubs
- Eating plants and produce in gardens
- Feeding on flowers and saplings
How to Control Rabbits
Since the rabbit life cycle moves quickly, ignoring these pests early on may lead to problems later. Blocking off the garden or yard is a popular way to exclude rabbits, though choosing the right fence is vital to keep the animals from digging underneath. For expert help, contact the friendly team at Critter Control.
