But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids – "Do bunnies come out at night?"

Host: Jane Lindholm | Guest: Professor Margo DeMello
Date: January 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the world of rabbits, answering kids’ questions about how rabbits live, communicate, and why they behave the way they do. Host Jane Lindholm welcomes anthrozoologist and rabbit rescuer Margo DeMello to shed light on what makes these fluffy, long-eared creatures so fascinating—from their social habits and unique anatomy to their nocturnal routines.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

What Is a Rabbit? What Makes Them Special?

• Rabbits as Lagomorphs (Not Rodents):

  • Rabbits are mammals in the order Lagomorpha, not rodents. This order includes rabbits, hares, and pikas.
    “And then within the lagomorph order are rabbits, hares and pikas. So it's a fairly small order with only three different types of animals in it.” — DeMello [06:01]
  • Lagomorphs have two sets of upper front teeth.

• Types and Domestication:

  • Only one species of rabbit—the European rabbit—has been domesticated.
    “Of all the hundreds of rabbits that exist on the planet, a single species has ever been domesticated, and that is our rabbit. [...] And so the single rabbit that was domesticated is [...] the European rabbit.” — DeMello [07:43]

Living with Rabbits: Challenges and Joys

• Domesticated vs. Wild Rabbits:
  • “Every single domesticated rabbit on the planet is a European rabbit.” — DeMello [08:28]
• Social Structure:
  • Rabbits are highly social (“gregarious”) animals and often happier in groups.
    “They are a social species. They are gregarious.” — DeMello [09:38]
• Rescue and Rehabilitation:
  • Margo shares her experience living with multiple rabbits and the unique challenge of integrating new rabbits due to their territorial nature.
    “Rabbits are super territorial, and so introducing a rabbit to another rabbit is not necessarily an easy job.” — DeMello [04:31]

Kid Questions, Expert Answers

Why Are They Called “Bunnies”?

• “Bunny” is an affectionate nickname; technically, baby rabbits are called “kits.”
  “We use bunny because it's just a cute kind of. It sounds softer, I think, in the mouth to say than rabbit.” — DeMello [08:53]

Why Do Bunnies Have Fur?

• Fur is a defining trait of all mammals and provides warmth and protection. Rabbits are born “altricial,” meaning they’re less developed and hairless at birth, unlike hares.
  “To be a mammal, to get entry into the mammal class, I think you have to have fur.” — DeMello [10:47]

Why Do Bunnies Have Puffball Tails?

• Tails are a communication tool; they use them to communicate emotions since they don’t vocalize much.
  • “The tail, as cute and small as it is, signals really important stuff to other rabbits.” — DeMello [11:48]
• Short tails are also practical for a prey animal—less for predators to grab.

How Do Rabbits Communicate?

• Most communication is body-based (tail flicks, ear positions) due to limited facial expressions.
• Rabbits rarely make vocal sounds but may thump, purr by tooth clicking, or grind their teeth (often a sign of stress).

Why Do Bunnies Hop?

• Hopping is an adaptation for quick, erratic escapes from predators; powerful hind legs aid both hopping and digging.
  • “For this particular type of prey animal, they need to have speed. And so they've got fairly muscular back legs.” — DeMello [17:19]
• Rabbits can also walk, which is common when they're nervous or in new environments.
• “Binking” is a joyful, playful behavior—a twisting hop.

What Do Rabbits Eat?

• Wild rabbits eat high-fiber diets (grasses, plant material); they're “always munching.”
  • “If you only fed them, let's say two times a day, their guts can't handle that. Their digestive systems need to be moving all of the time.” — DeMello [20:45]
• They have a sweet tooth but shouldn’t eat too much sugar (carrots in moderation).

Why Do They Have Long Ears?

• Long ears are for predator detection and temperature regulation.
• Ears can funnel faint sounds and help dissipate heat.
  • “The longer that the ear is, the longer that canal is, and it could funnel down sounds that other ears like ours would never be able to detect.” — DeMello [23:37]

How Do Rabbits See So Well?

• Eyes on the side of their heads allow for almost 360-degree vision, helpful for spotting predators.
• Two blind spots: directly in front of the nose and right behind the head.
  • “What you gain is almost 360 degree peripheral vision.” — DeMello [24:57]

Are Rabbits Nocturnal?

• Rabbits are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk.
  • “Technically, they're not nocturnal. They're crepuscular.” — DeMello [26:08]
• This routine helps them avoid peak predator activity and extreme temperatures.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Living with Many Rabbits:
  “I have 12 right now, which for me is a pretty low number.” — Margo DeMello [03:47]
• On Sassy Rabbit Behavior:
  “When they're doing something naughty or you scold them [...] they will flick their tail at you.” — Margo DeMello [14:09]
• On Why Rabbits Don’t Have Long Tails:
  “The last thing you want is to have a big tail behind you that somebody can grab.” — Margo DeMello [13:26]
• On Rabbit Sweet Teeth:
  “They adore candy, which is as good for them as it is for us, probably worse.” — Margo DeMello [21:36]
• On the Social Nature of Rabbits:
  “They're happier touching someone else. I get the sense that part of what they're doing is sort of catching up on their lives together.” — Margo DeMello [10:19]

Important Timestamps

• [01:55] Introduction to rabbits and guest, Margo DeMello
• [03:06] Guest explains her background in anthrozoology and rabbit rescue
• [04:31] Living with multiple rabbits is fun, but also challenging
• [06:01] What are lagomorphs?
• [07:43] Domesticated vs. wild rabbits
• [08:53] Why are they called “bunnies”?
• [09:38] Rabbits' social structure
• [10:47] Purpose of rabbit fur & developmental differences with hares
• [11:48] Why rabbits have tails
• [13:26] Utility of short tails for prey animals
• [14:09] Rabbits’ tail-flicking communication
• [17:19] Why rabbits hop and “bink”
• [20:45] What rabbits eat and why they forage constantly
• [23:37] Why rabbits have long ears
• [24:57] Rabbit vision explained
• [26:08] Rabbits are crepuscular, not nocturnal—their most active times
• [27:03] Tips for spotting bunnies in the wild

Episode Takeaways

• Rabbits are fascinating, social mammals with unique adaptations—like ever-growing incisors, almost panoramic vision, and powerful hind legs for evasion.
• They communicate quietly and subtly through body language rather than sound.
• Domesticated rabbits differ significantly from wild species and require specialized care and consideration before being kept as pets.
• Next time you want to spot a rabbit, try looking at dawn or dusk—they might just be out there, munching and hopping around!

Further Learning:
If your child has a burning question, record it and email it to questions@butwhykids.org!

(For full context, all timestamps refer to the main podcast content and skip over ad breaks and non-relevant segments.)