The snowshoe hare is found dwelling in dense forestry. This coloring is a reaction to their natural environment.
When the spring arrives and the snow melts, the hare molts again and returns to brown. This ensures that predators cannot easily spot the hare in the snow. When the winter arrives, they shed this coat and become completely white. This is also a defense mechanism, so your rabbit can blend into its environment easier.Īccording to National Geographic, snowshoe hairs have brown fur during the summer. This will often be very noticeable as a rabbit’s winter coat can be very thick.
The less exposure a rabbit has to the sun, the lighter its fur will become. Rabbit’s Fur Is Getting LighterĪ rabbit’s fur will lighten during the winter months. If a rabbit is not digesting its food, any fur that it swallows can become trapped. This can be dangerous as rabbits are incapable of vomiting, especially during molting. However, too much protein will slow down its digestion. The right amount of protein will help your rabbit work quickly through the shedding process. If you want to speed up the process of your rabbit’s molting, add some extra protein to its diet. Ensure that your rabbit has plenty of hay to eat as this will ease its digestion. This is especially likely during the summer when rabbits shed substantial amounts of fur. This means that they can ingest hairballs.
Rabbits groom themselves regularly, especially while molting. Combs and brushes with sharp edges are too harsh on a rabbit’s sensitive skin. Rabbits are easily stressed, but you can assist your pet with the grooming process. However, if the bald patches last longer than a day or two, this suggests that your rabbit is tearing out its fur, possibly due to stress. As long as the fur grows back quickly, this is not a cause for concern. This means that you may notice bald patches on your rabbit’s coat during shedding. Some rabbits lose all their fur at once, while others will shed fur in clumps. Molting often starts at the head and slowly moves down the body. The process can last anywhere between 2 and 6 weeks. In snowy climes, it’s quite common for a rabbit’s fur to turn completely white.Īs stated, rabbits molt every 3 months, whenever the seasons change. This, in turn, means that a rabbit’s new coat will lack pigmentation. In the winter, as the days grow shorter, less melanin is produced. This triggers a response in the rabbit’s body, promoting the production of melanin.Ī rabbit will have darker fur during the summer. In the summer, a rabbit will enjoy more sunshine and longer days. It’s a natural reaction to light exposure. This is more common in wild than domestic animals, but it applies to all rabbits. A rabbit will need a thicker coat in the winter than in the summer.Īlso, a rabbit’s fur may change color for its protection. This coincides with the change in the seasons and maintains the appropriate body temperature. Once a rabbit has its adult coat, it will not necessarily stay the same color. Around 3 months after this takes place, the rabbit will molt again and grow its adult coat. This will not necessarily be the same color as its baby coat. Rabbits shed baby fur and grow an ‘immediate coat’. It will experience its first molt at the age of 4-5 months. It’s the result of your rabbit molting and adapting to the change in seasons.Ī rabbit is born without any fur. Also, a baby rabbit may change color multiple times before it reaches adulthood. Rabbits frequently change color over the course of the year. Related Articles: Can Rabbits Change Color Suddenly?