Bunny behavior: aggression or play?

Question
We had a family dinner tonight, as it is Christmas Eve, and after dinner we let our pet bunny hop around the house while we sat around and talked. He is a youngish, neutered male and generally very friendly and curious. My aunt attempted to 'play' with the bunny by shaking a stuffed animal, slightly bigger than the bunny himself, in his face. He was in a corner of the room, and though he probably could have escaped behind the couch, it would have been a tight fit. While this was occurring, the bunny was displaying what I thought were clear signs of aggression, not playfulness. He was growling, biting, standing up on his hind legs and digging at the stuffed animal with a wild look in his eyes. I was very upset by this, interpreting his behavior as being distressed and aggressive, but my aunt and mom disagreed and got angry with me for ruining their fun. They thought that the bunny was enjoying it, and that if it was truly distressed it would have run away. I am curious to know if I was overreacting, or if I am correct in thinking that bunnies, unlike dogs (which both my aunt and mom keep as well), do not play that way. I usually interpret motions like the jump-twist, or running in circles and sniffing or lightly nipping as bunny play, but not repeated growling and biting. Please help me so that I can make sure that we are playing with him in the way he wants to be played with. Thank you, Emily.

Answer
Dear Emily,

You are correct, and your mother and aunt need a course in Bunny Behavior and Psyche 101.  Rabbits are prey animals, not predators.  Your relatives were interpreting your bunny's behavior as if he were a dog, not a rabbit.  Your bunny felt threatened and attacked, and he was responding appropriately for his situation:  feeling cornered and being tortured by a strange object.

I'm glad you were able to rescue him from the scare, and hope that your aunt and mother will learn NEVER to "play" with a bunny that way.  It was unpleasant and scary for him.  If you want a rabbit to attack you, just wave your hand in his face, which is bunny language for "Hey, pal, come and get some!"

:(

Hope the rest of your Christmas is much more merry than Christmas Eve, and that bunny will be spoiled rotten by your repentant maternal line who now know better.  Bunny play is usually the solo binky-dance and twisting leaps you usually see, an extension of their natural learning to escape from predators.   So they should watch him play and then stroke him gently and speak in loving tones to him so he knows they meant no harm.

Happy Christmas and New Year!

Take care,

Dana