There are as many as 16 different species of rabbits; the most common being is the eastern cottontail. There are many people who have off late started keeping wild rabbits as pets. The question that bothers them is what these wild rabbits eat, because whatever they are presented with they would hog on anything and everything. So, here is a comprehensive guide that will help you understand what wild rabbits eat.

Wild rabbits are herbivorous and the biggest misconception among people is that feeding lettuce and carrots would be the best for their health. This however is not true. On one hand wild rabbits survive on anything from grass, hay to twigs and leaves of any plants. But, when they are kept as pets you obviously don’t want them to spoil your garden. So, here is a range of food items that you can feed the wild rabbits with.

Hay and grass: This makes the bulk of the diet for the wild rabbit. Make sure that these are readily available to feed the rabbit. However, when feeding grass, you should make sure that the grass is not obtained from a place that has been treated with pesticides. Rabbits need to eat continuously when they are awake. Providing roughage in the form of hay and grass can keep their digestive tract on line. The most important point to be considered is that the digestive system always needs to be kept moving, so make sure that the wild rabbit has enough to eat even when you are not around.

Pellets: These are also important ingredients for a rabbit’s diet. Look for pellets from the market that has seeds and little treats in them. Wild rabbits are always ready to eat these and these pellets can be compared to fries and cheeseburgers, so the rabbits are always ready to eat them. The straight pellets are much better for the rabbits, but they should be fed in smaller amounts, as they are concentrated sources of food.

Fresh veggies: Fresh vegetables and fruits are always the traditional diet for rabbits. However, even wild rabbits love to be fed these fresh vegetables and fruits. However, you should start feeding them with fresh vegetables only when they are 6 months old. Make sure that you give small amount of vegetables, include small carrots and a small portion of apple in the diet of the wild rabbit. It is also important to note that you should keep away vegetables that cause gas and bloating like cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage. The veggies that are best for a wild rabbit diet include beet tops, sprouts, carrots, watercress, wheatgrass and parsley. There is a contradiction on feeding leafy vegetables to the wild rabbits. So, it is better that they should be avoided.

Rabbits are more active during dawn and dusk; however they can be active at any time of the day, and for that matter even at nights. You need to make sure that you have enough storage for the wild rabbit food that it does not have to starve or spoil your garden to fill its tummy.