Is The Easter Bunny a Hare or a Rabbit?

Is the Easter bunny a hare or rabbit? Turns out it’s a hare! Why on earth would I be asking such a question? I couldn’t help it. I was reading Vestal Flights by Helen Macdonald and she described hares as getting pregnant while still pregnant. I had never heard of such of a thing and had to investigate further. So, consider this week’s post in the category of “And More” for my blog. Here’s what I learned.

Origin of the Easter Bunny

First off, why are rabbits associated with Easter? Rabbits have long been associated in the ancient pagan world with fertility. Obviously, spring is also associated with fertility and rebirth. So, when certain pagan beliefs were blended with Christianity, rabbits became affiliated with Easter, a spring celebration of rebirth too.

But where did the idea come from that Easter bunnies should deliver eggs? In baskets no less? The stories are a bit fuzzy, but you can lay the blame on German immigrants to the United States who came in the 1700s. The German settlers brought their traditions with them based on their familiarity with the European brown hare. The hare makes nests above ground lined with grass (our rabbits burrow underground).  Predators hunt through long grasses to find them. In terms of symbolic customs, the nests easily converted to baskets (lined with artificial grass). The eggs were yet one more ancient symbol of fertility. Seems like the Russians were the first to decorate eggs. Stir all this together and we have the Easter bunny with colored eggs in a basket. Click here for more info.

Hares vs. Rabbits

Does it make a difference to say hare or rabbit? Well, yes. They are different species with different characteristics, and they cannot interbreed with one another. Their family trees diverged 11.8 million years ago! Click here for more information.

Hares are bigger with bigger hind feet, longer hind legs, and much bigger ears that swivel 260 degrees. They also run faster than rabbits and change the color of their coat with the seasons. They eat primarily bark and twigs.

Rabbits are brown year-round. They eat primarily grass. Baby bunnies are called kittens. They are born with their eyes closed and are mothered for months. Hares boot their babies out very quickly. Within hours of birth, they begin foraging. No surprise to learn that hares are not very social, but rabbits are. Rabbits feed in groups. Hares tend to be loners.

Rabbits as Pets

I’ve always been kind of skeptical about rabbits as pets. My daughter had a giant angora brown rabbit named Hershey when she was in elementary school. It kicked hard, she loved it, he lived outdoors, and it was a very sad day when he died. We also knew another family that had dozens and dozens of rabbits as part of a 4-H project. They were all in small cages and I wouldn’t call them pets. But another friend of mind claims that she housebroke her rabbit, and my resources say that rabbits bond with their owners, know them by voice or sight, come when called, and imitate their owners’ emotions. That’s impressive.

New Pregnancies While Pregnant?

What about my original question? Can rabbits become pregnant while already pregnant? No. But hares can. The condition is called superfetation (or superconception) Click here. Aristotle was the first to write about it. How he knew, I’ll never know. Turns out a recent scientific paper verified the condition with ultrasound. A female hare or doe may carry a litter and become pregnant with a subsequent litter at the same time. Since her uterus is already full until she delivers, the new little embryos “hang out” in her oviduct until they receive an “all clear” signal. Then they migrate into the uterus and implant like any other pregnancy. The whole process shortens gestation for the hare by four days, from 42 to 38 days.

I’m sure glad it doesn’t work that way in humans! Aristotle said superconception happens in horses too.  Click here for more info.

I’ve been around horses and horse people all my life. I think Aristotle was probably wrong in this case. Again, thank goodness! The poor mare would die of exhaustion in no time!

Wrap-Up

Spring makes everyone want to celebrate. Especially this year after COVID lockdowns and loneliness. Enjoy your Easter. Enjoy your Passover. Enjoy your holidays. And gathering once again in small groups! And smile if you see bunnies hopping around.

Best wishes.