MyBoyHarperwrote: A pool is also a bad idea, as bunnies can't swim.
This was some thingsfound on researchIdid about Rabbits and is Here to help spreadtheknowledge!
And I agree about the pool being a bad idea because DomesticRabbits Hate the water as most others dobut WildRabbits are taught to
swim as a defensivemeasure in a life & death situation.
I've personally seen Wild bunnies jump in our back pond to escape thestray dogs that chased them there,and they
swam all the way across a 60ft wide area.I've also seen video's of Domestic
Rabbitsswimming in pools but they were just trying to get out andvery seldom will you find a bunny that enjoys it,but somedo!
Here's other links of Rabbits swimming
ScrubHareBlackTailedJackRabbit
ArticHareSnowShoeHareWhiteTailedJackRabbit
The European brown hare (Lepus capensis or europaeus) takes readily towater and swims well. It often crosses from island to island off thecoast of Scotland. Volume 4 of Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals,published by McGraw-Hill Publishing Company in 1990 has a photograph ofa swimming hare on pages 274-5 (the only one I could find). It has itshead, shoulders and front paws out of the water. On page 291, EberhardSchneider says that he determined that the field hare swims with allfour feet in a kind of hopping motion. The wild rabbit moves thefore-paws forward beneath the neck and impels the body forward throughthe water with alternating vigorous thrusts by the hind legs.
To summarise, it seems that hares swim well and are not afraid to dashinto a watery refuge. They may cross streams to reach new feedinggrounds and also swim to escape enemies. It seems that they use allfour feet in a Dog paddle' or hopping motion. While the hares canswim, I don't think they are particularly physically adept forswimming'. Many species live in deserts and some species only swim ifthey have to.
I hope this helps, despite being more limited than I would have liked.
All the best
Jonathan/Experts @ about.com
MikeE.
"Tell Me,I'll Forget"
"Show Me,I'll Remember"
"Involve Me,I'll Understand"