Rabbits and hares are herbivores, eating mainly plants.
Rabbits and hares, often referred to as rodents, are lagomorphs. A lagomorph's digestive system can only digest plant material, making them herbivores. The diets of rabbits and hares vary depending on their location and environment. Though they prefer young growth vegetation when it is available, both rabbits and hares will eat bark and other woody vegetation if their preferred food is not available.
Herbivores
Rabbits and hares are obligate herbivores. This means their digestive systems can only obtain their nutrients from plant material. They are also opportunistic feeders, which means they eat whatever plant food is available, including grass, leaves, roots, seeds and even bark from trees. An herbivore's diet contains large amounts of hard to digest cellulose; however, their stomach, intestines and cecum contain special bacteria designed to break down the cellulose and extract the necessary calories and nutrients from the food. Rabbits and hares also produce soft droppings that they eat to extract more nutrients before producing harder droppings that are left behind.
Vegetation
Both hares and rabbits prefer to eat vegetation in the early stages of development. These plants are tender and sweet. They may dig for roots and even nibble on the bark of young trees. They seek out tender new grass growth, clover, dandelions and leaves. They are not fussy eaters, however, and will also eat more mature plants when young plants are not available. During dry years and winter months, when plant growth is limited, they will even eat the tougher bark of mature trees.
Hare Food Preference
Though they will eat grasses and leaves, the hare prefers the woodier parts of plants such as bark and small twigs. However, this preference also differs depending on the hare's location and climate. The Arctic hare prefers willow twigs and roots, while the Scrub hare of Africa prefers tender grass shoots. The snowshoe hare found in America concentrates on grasses and ferns during the summer and switches to woody vegetation such as pine needles and bark in the winter.
Rabbit Food Preference
Rabbits concentrate on eating mostly grasses, leaves and roots; however, the main diet depends on their location. The Amami rabbit of Japan concentrates on bamboo shoots, berries and the leaves and stems of sweet potatoes as these items are abundant in Japan. The cottontails of America eat new grass sprouts, leaves, roots and dandelions. However, during dry spells or severe winters, they will make a diet of pine needles and bark like the snowshoe hare.
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