What's the Difference between Rabbits, Bunnies & Hares?

Summary

“Who Smarted?” Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: What's the Difference between Rabbits, Bunnies & Hares?

Release Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Trusty Narrator (Atomic Entertainment/Starglow Media)
Guest: Suggs Bunny (character), Farmer Fudd (character)

Episode Overview

This episode of “Who Smarted?” is a fun, fact-filled journey into the world of rabbits, bunnies, and hares. Through a mix of comedic character voices, trivia questions, and storytelling, the podcast explores the differences (and similarities) between these adorable animals. Along the way, listeners learn about their biology, behavior, habitats, and even why rabbits have a complicated history in Australia.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Encounter with Suggs Bunny

• Trusty, out for a nature hike, spots a wild rabbit (02:19).
• Introduction of Suggs Bunny, who quickly displays both wit and a mischievous side by requesting help hiding watercress from Farmer Fudd (03:00–04:26).
• The comedic character Farmer Fudd appears, continuing the cartoon homage and playful banter (03:28–04:04).

Rabbit Basics: Species, History, and Range

• Number of Rabbit Species:
  • “There are 29 species of rabbits belonging to the family of Leporidae.” – Suggs Bunny (05:31)
• Rabbit Fossils:
  • First well-documented in the Eocene epoch, about 40 million years ago.
  • Trivia for listeners: smartypants, do you know how long ago that was? (05:49–06:06)
• Global Range:
  • Rabbits now live in 70 countries on every continent except Antarctica.
  • “It's simply too cold for rabbits to live there.” (06:41)
  • Personal quirk: Suggs refuses to go to Australia, with a mysterious reason to be revealed later.

Differences Between Rabbits, Bunnies, and Hares

• Terminology:
  • “Bunny is just another name for rabbit. But therein lies the problem—names…” – Suggs Bunny (08:08)
  • Example confusion: Jackrabbits are hares, while some animals called ‘hares’ are rabbits (08:15–08:23)
• Physical and Behavioral Differences:
  • “Rabbits are smaller and have shorter ears than hares. Rabbits also tend to hide rather than run from predators. We prefer habitats with trees and shrubs… Hares prefer open prairies or plains.” – Suggs Bunny (07:43)
  • “Rabbits also tend to hide rather than run from predators. Remember what I said about being stealthy?” (07:42)
• Not All Rabbits Look Alike:
  • Notable exceptions like the black Amami rabbit of Japan, black-striped rabbits of Southeast Asia, and huge variety in domesticated breeds (09:00–09:32).
  • Trivia: There are 191 unique breeds of domesticated rabbits.
    • “When you say all rabbits look alike. I say look again, sir. Look again.” – Suggs Bunny (09:41–10:10)
• Memorable Moment:
  • Rapid-fire, joke-filled explanation of “rabbit-brained” vs. “hare-brained” distinctions:
    • Suggs Bunny: “A rabbit is rabbit brain, while a hare is har… I slay me. Get it? Rabbit brained. Hare brained.” (07:13–07:22)

Rabbit Diet & Digestive Oddities

• Diet:
  • Mostly grasses and forbs (flowering plants not considered grass).
  • “Rabbits, both wild and domesticated, are strict vegetarians.” – Suggs Bunny (08:31)
  • Other foods: bok choy, brussels sprouts, lettuce, carrot tops (13:41)
• Digestive Adaptation—Coprophagy:
  • Unforgettable Fact: “To get all the vitamins and nutrients from the plants we eat, we sometimes have to eat poo.” – Suggs Bunny (14:33–14:46)
  • Rabbits produce two types of droppings—one (hard) is not eaten, the other (soft) is re-consumed to fully digest nutrients (15:08–15:36).
  • “Even if it means eating your do do. But how does eating your poop help you?” – Trusty (15:08–15:16)

Why Rabbits Are Unwelcome in Australia

• Historical Context:
  • Invasive species since introduction in the 1850s, causing agricultural devastation and extinctions (15:50–16:19).
  • “There’s been bad blood between us ever since 1859, when wild European rabbits were introduced to Australia… We caused extensive agricultural damage and precipitated the extinction of certain native flora and fauna.” – Suggs Bunny (15:50–16:19)
• Control Efforts:
  • 1950s: Virus from South American cottontails wipes out 99% of Australian rabbits, but survivors develop immunity.
  • Ongoing control: biological means, poisoning, hunting, warren destruction (16:19–17:08).
• Personal Punchline:
  • “Now you know why Australia is on the no-go list. But it’s a great place for smarty pants. Oh, and speaking of invasive species, here comes that nosy farmer again.” – Suggs Bunny (17:13–17:25)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Names:
  • “Mr. Rabbit's my father's name. Call me Suggs, Bunny.” – Suggs Bunny (02:57)
• On Hares and Rabbits:
  • “Rabbits are smaller and have shorter ears than hares. Rabbits also tend to hide rather than run from predators.” – Suggs Bunny (07:43)
• Comedy Highlight:
  • “A rabbit is rabbit brain, while a hare is har… I slay me. Get it? Rabbit brained. Hare brained.” – Suggs Bunny (07:13–07:22)
• On Australia's Rabbit Problem:
  • “What I’m saying is we never should have been there in the first place. Humans introduced us without asking.” – Suggs Bunny (16:29)
  • “99% of the Australian rabbits died before they developed immunity and regrew the population.” – Suggs Bunny (16:51)
• Digestive Ewww:
  • “Fine. It’s true. It’s all true. To get all the vitamins and nutrients from the plants we eat, we sometimes have to eat poo.” – Suggs Bunny (14:33)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Suggs Bunny Introduction & Initial Banter: 02:19–04:26
• How Long Have Rabbits Existed—Fossil Record: 05:31–06:07
• Rabbit Global Range/Australia Tease: 06:07–07:00
• Rabbit vs. Hare vs. Bunny Differences: 07:07–08:23
• Physical Variety of Rabbits—Breed Numbers: 09:15–10:10
• What Rabbits Eat (and Digestive Quirkiness): 13:19–15:36
• Invasive Rabbits in Australia: 15:44–17:13

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Episode Tone & Language

The tone is playful, witty, and accessible for kids and families. Characters interact through puns (“rabbit-brained”), direct questions for the audience (“Hey, smarty pants!”), and break the fourth wall with jokes and comedic confessions. The show’s signature humor keeps even potentially “gross” topics (rabbit coprophagy) light and engaging.

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Final Takeaway

This episode delivers a smart, laugh-out-loud exploration of the fascinating world of rabbits, bunnies, and hares. With vivid characters and clever storytelling, “Who Smarted?” provides clear science, memorable facts, and fun trivia, making it a perfect choice for curious kids, parents, and teachers alike.

Transcript

[A]

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And now it's time for who's Smartid?

Psst. Hey, smarty pants. Once again, I'm in the woods taking a nature hike. Gosh, golly gee, do I love breathing in the fresh air, smelling that earthy smell, and just enjoying the subtle quiet of nature. Also, Chet nickerson owes me $20 because he bet me that I wouldn't use gosh, golly gee in a sentence. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes. You can't beat the call of the wild. Or the woods near my house. If I'm really lucky, I might catch a glimpse of a critter. Oh, a squirrel. Ah, a chipmunk. And what's that? Why, it's a wild rabbit. Shh. Let's not scare it, smarty pants. Are you rabid for rabbits like me? Do you also share a rabbit habit?

[B]

Shh.

[A]

I get it. That joke stunk. But don't scare away the bunny. I gotta say, this little guy is pretty brave. I'm not even four feet away and he's just chilling out.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

Now he's looking right at me. It's almost as if they can tell I want to know more about them. Of course, the second I move, they'll probably run.

[B]

Yeah, what's up, Doc?

[A]

Huh? Did that rabbit just talk to me?

[B]

Uh, yeah. You've been staring at me for a while. So I repeat. What's up, Doc?

[A]

Umm, not much. Also, I'm not a doctor. I'm a narrator. Do you have a name? Mr. Rabbit.

[B]

Mr. Rabbit's my father's name. Call me Suggs, Bunny.

[A]

Oh, Suggs. Got it. You can call me Trusty.

[B]

Oh, yeah? Why should I trust you?

[A]

Oh, tell him, smarty pants.

See? I'm a very trusty narrator.

[B]

In that case, quick. Stuff this watercress into your pocket and don't say a word.

[A]

Watercress? Um, okay. Hey, where'd you go? Suggs?

Shh.

[B]

Be very, very quiet.

[A]

Uh, who are you now?

[B]

I'm Farmer Fudd, and that's my farm over yonder. I'm looking for the wascally wabbit who stole my watercress.

[A]

Oh, oh, I get it. Sorry, no rabbits here. Or bunnies.

[B]

Twat. One day I'm gonna catch that Twicky rabbit. My strange man, wandering alone in the woods.

[A]

Psst. Suggs. The coast is clear. Suggs.

[B]

Phew. That farmer with the familiar speech pattern is always giving me trouble.

[A]

Whoa. You're back. I didn't even hear you. I must say, you're really good at hiding.

[B]

Stealth is in a rabbit's nature.

[A]

I suppose it was you who stole this watercress from Farmer Fudd?

[B]

Stole?

[A]

No.

[B]

I accepted a generous donation in support of the local rabbit population.

[A]

Uh huh.

[B]

I gotta say, you do live up to your name, trustee. I owe you one.

[A]

Don't mention it. But if you did want to repay me, you could answer some questions I have about rabbits. Like how many species are there? What's the difference between rabbits and hares? And for that matter, bunnies. What do rabbits eat? And are rabbits considered an invasive species?

[B]

Invasive species? You've been reading too many science fiction books.

[A]

Uh huh. It's time for another whiff of science and history on who smarted.

Who smarted.

[B]

Who? Is it you?

[A]

Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smart and.

[B]

Eh. What's up, Trusty? What do you want to know?

[A]

First, let's see how many species of rabbits are there.

[B]

That's easy. There are 29 species of rabbits belonging to the family of Leporidae. Say it with me. Leporidae. This Leporidae family hasn't changed much for a long, long time. Since the Eocene epoch. That's when rabbit fossils were first well documented.

[A]

Smartypants. Do you know how long ago that was when rabbit fossils were first documented? Was it 10,000 years ago, 100,000 years ago, or 40 million years ago? If you said 40 million years ago, you're right.

[B]

Yep, that's how long us rabbits have been hippity hopping around the joint. Back then, we was mainly in North America, but now we live in 70 countries on every continent except.

[A]

Ooh, let's see if the smarty pants can guess. Which continent will you not find rabbits on? Did you say.

[B]

Did you say Australia? Because that's one place I'm never gonna go.

[A]

Ever. Australia? What's wrong with Australia? I love Australia. And we have lots of smarty pans listening in Australia. G', day, smarties.

[B]

Nope. I ain't going to Australia. You can't make me.

[A]

Okay, we'll come back to that later. But that's not the answer, is it, Suggs? Smartypants, do you know which continent rabbits do not live on? If you said Antarctica, you're right. It's simply too cold for rabbits to live there.

[B]

That's right, smarty pants. No Antarctica and no Australia for personal reasons. What's next, Rusty?

[A]

Uh oh. What's the difference between a rabbit and a hare?

[B]

You don't know?

[A]

No. That's why I asked.

[B]

A rabbit is rabbit brain, while a hare is har.

I slay me. Get it? Rabbit brained. Hare brained.

[A]

Good one, Suggs. Smarty pants, do you think you know some differences between rabbits and hares? Do they differ in their size and shape, how they evade predators, their preferred habitat, senses of humor?

[B]

Okay, I like a good laugh, so sue me. In general, rabbits are smaller and have shorter ears than hares. Rabbits also tend to hide rather than run from predators. Remember what I said about being stealthy? And. We prefer habitats with trees and shrubs where we dig into the soil and live in burrows. Hares prefer to live in open prairies or plains.

[A]

Gotcha. So if rabbits are different than hares, what's a bunny?

[B]

Bunny is just another name for rabbit. But therein lies the problem. Names, you know. Jackrabbits.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, jackrabbits are actually a species of hare. But rock hares and hispid hares.

[A]

Let me guess. Rabbits.

[B]

Exactly. Say, you got any watercress left in your pocket?

[A]

Uh, no. But I do have some leftover meat cake.

[B]

Pass. Rabbits, both wild and domesticated, are strict vegetarians.

[A]

Right. Anyway, I couldn't help noticing all you rabbits, but bunnies and hares look pretty similar. Gray, brown fur, long ears, big eyes. That's Kind of the rabbit hair look. Am I right?

[B]

Um, what's a one syllable word that starts with n and rhymes with go?

[A]

No.

[B]

Exactly. And that's also the answer to your question. No. Not all rabbits and hares look alike. Granted, all wild rabbits have a general look. Grayish brown fur, long ears, big eyes, yada yada yada. There are some notable exceptions, like the black Amami rabbit of Japan and the black striped rabbits of Southeast Asia.

[A]

Interesting. I've never heard of those.

[B]

Good thing you ran into me. Then there are the multitudinous breeds of domesticated rabbits. You know, the kind people have as pets. They all look very different. Long hair, short hair, brown, white, tan, gray, black, spotted.

[A]

Hey, smarty pets. How many breeds of rabbits do you think there are? 50? 100? Or 150?

[B]

If I could just find my 2017 year in rabbit Review. Ah, here it is. And I quote, after putting our furry heads together, the American Rabbit Breeders association and the British Rabbit Council have determined there are 191 unique breeds of rabbits. So, Mr. Narrator, when you say all rabbits look alike. I say look again, sir. Look again.

[A]

Thanks, Suggs. You've changed my whole perspective on rabbits. So, I know you like watercress, but what else do rabbits like to eat? And have their eating habits ever led them to become an invasive species?

[B]

There you go with the crazy stories again.

[A]

We'll see about that right after this quick break.

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Now back to who smarted.

Okay, Suggs, besides stolen, I mean borrowed watercress, what do rabbits like to eat?

[B]

Mainly grasses and forbs. Do you know what forbs are?

[A]

I don't, smarty pants. Any idea what forbs are? Are they copies of a business magazine, a flowering plant that isn't grass, or a special kind of fork?

[B]

Forbs are those flowering plant thingies that aren't grass. But rabbits also eat vegetables like bok choy, Brussels sprouts, lettuce and carrot tops. I'd say we've probably tried most green or leafy vegetation at least once.

[A]

Plants are known to contain a lot of cellulose. Isn't that hard to digest?

[B]

Hard to digest?

[A]

Pssh. Is that an odd question?

[B]

Relax. Geez. What's with the third degree?

[A]

Third degree?

[B]

Is it hot in here? This fur has me burning up. Can someone turn the temperature down?

[A]

The temperature hasn't changed. Suggs, are you hiding something?

[B]

Hiding something? No. Why would I be hiding something?

[A]

Because when I asked if the cellulose in the plants is hard to digest, you got very, very nervous.

[B]

Fine. I confess. I did it. It was me.

[A]

Did what, Suggs?

[B]

Fine. It's true. It's all true. To get all the vitamins and nutrients from the plants we eat, we sometimes have to eat poo.

[A]

Ew. Random poo or.

[B]

You're really gonna make me say it, aren't you?

Yes. Rabbits sometimes eat their own poo. Yucky. But it's a special kind of poo that's good for us. A rabbit's digestive tract makes two types of poo. One that's hard and bad for us, which we don't eat, and one that's soft, which we do.

[A]

Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do, even if it means eating your do do. But how does eating your poop help you?

[B]

The soft poo form comes in a chamber between our intestines where bacteria breaks down the plant's cellulose and produces essential B VI when it passes, we eat it and the recovered nutrients get redigested in a special part of our stomachs. Look, I ain't particularly proud of it, so maybe keep it on the down low.

[A]

Speaking of down, why won't you go to the land down under? You know Australia?

[B]

So you really want to know?

[A]

Honestly, after learning about your special poo dinner, I'm not so sure.

[B]

The reason I won't go to Australia is because rabbits and Australia are like oil and vinegar. We just don't mix.

[A]

How so?

[B]

There's been bad blood between us ever since 1859, when wild European rabbits were introduced to Australia. See, we gotta eat plants to survive. So it's not our fault that in 10 years we caused, quote, extensive agricultural damage and in 60 years precipitated the extinction of certain native flora and fauna.

[A]

Ah, so you're saying rabbits are considered an invasive species in Australia?

[B]

What I'm saying is we never should have been there in the first place. Humans introduced us without asking. Then things got worse. In the 1950s, since the Australian wildlife authorities couldn't control the rabbit population, they brought out the big guns. A virus naturally occurring in South American cottontails that was lethal to the European Rabb.

99% of the Australian rabbits died before they developed immunity and regrew the population. To this day, the Aussie authorities are trying to control the rabbit population through biological solutions. Poisoning, fumigation, hunting and warren destruction.

[A]

Oh, wow. I'm so sorry, Suggs. That's a very unfortunate situation.

[B]

Now you know why Australia is on the no go list. But it's a great place for smarty pants. Oh, and speaking of invasive species, here comes that nosy farmer again.

[A]

Suggs, where'd you go?

[B]

Shh be very, very quiet.

[A]

I'm looking for a rabbit who stole some watercress.

[B]

That's right. You seen any rabbits around?

[A]

Nope. Oh, I know. Have you tried looking in Antarctica?

[B]

No, but I will. Thanks. What's your name?

[A]

Uh, the not so trusty narrator this one time.

A super smarty shout out to Carter in Greer, South Carolina. You told us you love the funny sound effects, questions, trivia and songs and that yelling meat cake is your favorite. Well, thanks for smarting and meat caking with us, Carter. This episode. Rabbits was written by Dan Jackrabbit Gold and voiced by Taya Good Bunny Garlett, Jason Warren Williams and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Hop and Josh Hahn. Who's Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room studios. Our associate producer is Max Cottontail Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Bad Bunny Suarez. Lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who's Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.

[B]

Too smart and.

Star glow.