Why do wild rabbit's change color in the winter and domestic rabbit's don't?

Answer 1

because domestic rabbits were specifically bred to be house rabbits. therefore they lost the gene that controls when their coat color changes during the domestication process.

Answer 2

I don't know of any wild rabbits where there color changes in the winter. I know that for our local cottontail wild rabbits in the midwest that they don't change color. There may be some varieties of wild rabbits that change color in the winter though.

On domestic rabbits, there are some breeds that do change color, but they normally change color with age and not with the season. For instance, Champagne D' Argents are black when they are born and turn grey as they grow older. Some other domestic rabbits are affected by the temperature when they are born. Himalayans and Californians for example, will turn darker the cooler it is when they are born. If the rabbit is left on a cold wire floor, the grid patern of the wire can sometimes be seen on the rabbit.

Answer 3

It's a defense mechanism for wild rabbits. It's the same as asking "why aren't all domestic rabbits brown?"- it has been bred out of them.

It would be cool if pet rabbits did- except then owners would also have to worry about the excessive shedding during the spring.

Answer 4

Wild rabbits have to worry about prey that could feed on them duringn the winter, so they changer their coat color to white or something like that so they have a better chance of survival. Domestic rabbits are actually a different kind of rabbit, who don't change color becasue they have no prey that are going to kill them in particular.

Answer 5

wild rabbit's change their color to blend with their surroundings as the seasons change. domestic rabbit's surroundings are normally the same, and their genes are different than a wild rabbit's. I hope i helped.

Answer 6

Some rabbits coats will turn white in the winter, domestic rabbits may or may not, you have to check the breed to find out.

Answer 7

Domestic rabbits coats change very slightly according to season but not with all domestics. But wild rabbits are very different than tame ones. They are different classification of animals.

Answer 8

Because wild rabbits have more of an instinct to camouflage. In the wild, rabbits change colors so they can easily blend into their environments. Blending into the environment in which they live is important, because it helps protect them from getting eaten by predators.

Answer 9

Domestic rabbits don't change due to the fact they aren't prey for other animals or birds. Wild ones change to hide themselves. I do think some domestics may still change mine don't.

Answer 10

I think its natures way of protecting the wild rabbits the best it can from predators--on the other hand domestic ones are waited on hands and feet ---if you get my drift.