Cosette and Coco show off some tail.

(In honor of Hans from Furrybutts, who recently passed away.)

The SF Gate has a nice article on the joys of having a pet rabbit and traces the origins of The House Rabbit Society. The society was founded in 1988 by Marinell Harriman, who published The House Rabbit Handbook three years earlier.

Harriman found that there was little information out there on how to raise a rabbit as a house pet. She learned everything about indoor rabbits from her own bunny, Herman.

The article also discusses misconceptions still held by many regarding house rabbits. The article interviews a woman, Jennifer Lee, who took in her friend’s rabbit only to learn that everything her friend told her about rabbits was wrong.

Read the article at SFGate.com.

Purchase Marinell Harriman’s book House Rabbit Handbook: How to Live With an Urban Rabbit

We plucked our first head of lettuce from our garden and, after a thorough washing, gave it to Coco and Cosette. A few investigative sniffs led to a full on eating contest between the two. I’d have to say our homegrown lettuce was a hit.

Lily gives us some tips of caring for your pet bunny, with her bunny, Savannah.

Join me on Bunni Island here

Here’s a cute and addictive game featuring bunnies. It’s similar to Animal Crossing.

INSTRUCTIONS
- Press and hold the mouse button to move in a direction.
- Drag and drop bunnies onto buildings to put them to work.
- Drag and drop bunnies onto your character to make them follow you.
- Plant flowers so your bunnies don’t become hungry
- Harvest gold and wood to buy better items

Benny is a Flemish Giant house rabbit living in Oxfordshire, England.

Measuring 82 centimeters long (~32 inches), Benny is longer than the previous record holder, Amy, a Continental Giant who died last May who measured 81.5 cm.

Benny joined Martin and Sharon Heather’s household last year when Martin came across the large bunny at an animal sanctuary.  Although sanctuary staff warned that Benny didn’t really warm to people,  Benny took an instant liking to Martin.  With that, the Flemish Giant was welcomed into the Heather family.

Benny enjoys the run of the house and is often found snuggling with the family dog on the sofa.

For more info: The Courier-Mail

Nicole from designcuriosities created this fantastic indoor hutch using repurposed furniture from Ikea.

Disappointed with the housing options available for their bunny Eames, Nicole and her boyfriend set out to make something that would complement the furniture they had.  The result is a stylish and modern hutch that any bunny would be proud to call home.

For more photos and instructions visit Design*Sponge.

No, not those Playboy bunnies. Sylvilagus palustris hefneri, a marsh rabbit subspecies named for Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, has been on the endangered species list since 1990. Current estimates claim that there are only 300 of the rabbits left in the wild. The rabbits live in an island environment and feed on specific grasses and plants. Human encroachment has resulted in habitat loss and deaths by domestic animals and cars.

Fortunately, researchers at the University of Central Florida have stepped in to aid the rabbits.  They are researching the genetic diversity of the rabbit population. They believe that the more diverse the genetic population, the greater chance of adaptation and survival. They hope to determine the most genetically diverse group of rabbits and relocate them to an undisturbed area to foster population growth.

This subspecies of rabbit was named for Mr. Hefner when it was discovered in 1984 to honor the donations made by his organization for field research on rabbits.

For more information visit Discovery News.