Rabbit Digging

Question
Hello,
I recently built an outdoor pen for my rabbit attached to her cage. For the first few days she was just grazing like I expected. After a few days, I noticed she had been making little craters in the grass and sometimes a little "nest". Then, I realized that she was digging large holes that sometimes led to tunnels 1-2 feet long underground. I know it is instinct to dig and burrow underground but if she digs under the pen, then she will escape. Today I was certain I lost her but I found a tunnel where she was laying about a foot inside. I pulled her out to make sure she was okay. I was thinking that she is looking for shade in the pen because it has direct sunlight almost all day but she also has a cage to go into with a fan if she gets hot. I'm assuming this is normal. When i find a hole or tunnel i just fill it back in. I just wanted to know what i should do. Do i keep filling them in or do I let her dig and possibly escape? I built the pen mostly to give her exercise because she is a little overweight and since, I have seen a difference in her weight so it is working. If you could just try to give me some guidance on what to do i would appreciate it. Thanks!

Answer
Dear Nathan,

For starters, you must NEVER NEVER put her in any place where there is mostly direct sun.  Your bunny probably saved her own life by digging herself a burrow, because a bunny not quite so resourceful might well have died from heat stroke.  Rabbits are NOT like dogs, and they do not withstand heat well at all.  Many, many rabbits die from heat stroke each year because people just don't realize this.

Second, it's important to make sure any outdoor enclosure is rabbit-safe.  You won't be able to prevent her from digging, but you can make sure the pen is large enough to accomodate her tunnels and to provide a concrete footer at least 24" deep to prevent her from digging out (or predators from digging in.  The top should also be covered to prevent death from above.  I know of people who have watched from a few feet away as their beloved rabbit was stooped and swept up by a hawk.  If your yard is not fenced and you are not watching, she could just as easily be stolen by an evil person.  It's just not worth the risk.

Please be sure her safety is top priority.  Outdoors is fun for rabbits, and digging is healthy, great exercise.  But it's up to you to be sure that she is not in danger from environmental extremes and predators that can kill, sometimes very quickly and without much warning.

I hope this helps.

Dana