Can Rabbits See In The Dark? 4 Surprising Facts

Can rabbits see in the dark? Of course, they do!

But that, my friend, is not entirely true.

Have you ever wondered what the world looks like in the eyes of your furry bunnies?

I bet you have lots of questions about their perception of the world.

In this article, we help you see the world with the eyes of your furry friend.

Let us dive into their world, know how they see it and get to know them more.

And with these things in mind, you can surely give them the comfort they deserved.

Without further ado, let’s start.

Survival of The Fittest (Rabbit’s Survival Instinct)

The iron-clad rule of nature is survival of the fittest, governed by the theory of natural selection.

The strong survive, and the weak perish.

Rabbits belong to the soft side of the natural spectrum because they are prey.

To stay in an ever-changing nature, they evolved through time and developed traits that would increase their survival rate.

Rabbits have potent senses which enable them to detect instant changes in their surroundings.

Regardless of whether it is day or night, these senses help them flee from predators and escape dangers.

But aside from that, their sense of vision is also one of many traits that evolved as they adapted in the wild for the sake of survival.

So, what do rabbits see, and how do their eyes work?

Are Rabbits Comfortable In The Dark?

Can rabbits see in the dark? Yes, rabbits can see in the dark.

But are they comfortable with it?

The answer is yes, and a no.

Rabbits have their preferences as we do.

Like your pet, domesticated rabbits might prefer a brighter environment than the rabbits in the wild because it’s the environment they feel safe in.

They can hide easily, and predators can’t track them.

Can Rabbit Eyes See It All? (4 Facts About Rabbits Vision)

Are you wondering how rabbits perceive the world and what it looks like for them?

Curious why it seems that they can’t see a treat you’re giving when it’s up close?

Can rabbits see in the dark? Are they comfortable with it?

As a pet owner, you probably have these questions; that’s why I will tell you the things you need to know about a rabbit’s vision.

#1. Rabbits can see in the dark

Like I said earlier, they can see in the dark better than humans do.

So how and what can rabbits see in the dark?

Rabbit’s eyes have two types of photoreceptors located in the retinas, the rods, and the cons.

Cons are in charge of making a high resolution and detailed images while rods are responsible for higher visual sensitivity in low light, but it has a poor resolution.

Their eyes have many more rods than that of a human eye; thus, their eyes are more sensitive to light than us.

Perhaps, these reasons justify why rabbits can see in the dark with ease.

But then, expect that they see a grainy image at night as more rods are equated to a lower resolution.

It’s worth noting that the vision of your rabbit is suitable for half-light conditions only.

hat means that the ideal time for them to see clearly is early morning and evening.

Rabbits are crepuscular, contrary to the common notion that they are nocturnal; this means that they are more active during dawn and dusks and prefer low to mid-light environments.

This is just their preference, and it doesn’t mean that they’re blind at night or on bright days.

And to add to this information, this behavior is also one of their defense mechanisms to protect themselves from predators whenever rabbits travel or gather food because most predators are diurnal (more active during the day) or nocturnal (more active at night). 

#2. 360-degree vision

Rabbits have to survive in the wild because more giant animals always hunt them.

And this is to keep themselves safe, and nature gave them a weapon that helps them see impending dangers, a 360-degree visual range.

Their eyes are located up high on the sides of their head, enabling them to see in any direction, especially from behind and above.

This wide visual range is essential for their survival since it makes it easier for them to sense predators from a distance.

However, this 360-degree visual range has its blind spots and limitation.

Rabbit’s blind spot is located directly at the front of their face.

This flaw is the reason why they ignore the treats or food you placed directly in front of their nose. They don’t forget it intentionally because they didn’t say it.

To make it up to this, they rely on their strong senses to detect predators and find their food.

They utilize their fair hearing and nose to compensate for what they can’t see.

#3. Colors from a rabbit’s POV

Do rabbits see the same colors as we do? The answer is no, and they don’t.

Rabbits can only see the colors blue and green, while humans can perceive blue, green, and red.

They mostly see blue and green hues because their eyes have more rods that are sensitive to these colors.

Blue and green lights are also used in low light conditions, ideal conditions for rabbits’ activity patterns.

The colors blue and green are essential for their survival because they allow them to spot potential threats from the sky or land and help them in food gathering.

#4. Farsighted but also nearsighted

Are you curious about how far and how near can your furry rabbit see?

Rabbits are farsighted; this is entirely because it is one of their defense mechanisms to detect threats located at a distance.

When we say farsighted, they can see more clearly kinds of stuff if they are further away, and less clear if they are too near.

However, their vision is not limited to just that.
They can also see objects placed near them, but they should also be located beyond their blind spots.

Summing it all up, their vision can detect possible threats in the distance, but they can also check objects that are placed close by.

Can rabbits see in pure darkness?

Although rabbits are capable of seeing in dim light they can not see in pure darkness and go blind just like we do.

For an animal to see in the darkness, it must have a layer of tissues (tapetum lucidum) behind the retina to reflect light. This is a common phenomenon in nocturnal animals.

Since rabbits are crepuscular and are most active during dawn and dusk, they lack this ability.

Conclusion

Can rabbits see in the dark? Yes, they can, however, not in entirely pitch-black darkness.

Rabbits prefer half-light conditions because their eyes have more rods (photoreceptors) than humans. Their activity patterns are significantly dependent on how their eyes were designed.

Rabbits may be or may not feel comfortable in the dark. Domesticated rabbits may need dim lights during the night, while wild rabbits may want to stay in the dark.

That’s why it is your duty as the owner to determine what makes your furry pet comfortable at night to make sure that they feel safe and satisfied with the environment you give them.

Also, it may help to give them foods, such as oranges, that can improve their eyesight.

Hopefully, you’ve learned a lot from this article.

Have a great day!