Rabbits suddenly digging like maniacs!

[MrsOake]

I have two male neutered buns, 5yo. They’ve always had the same hutch and run set up and have free range of our garden about 8 hours a day. They generally seem pretty happy buns. They have no interest in me but they’re not scared of me either which I take to be a good thing.

I noticed a couple of days ago that it looked like they’d started digging in their run. I went out today and there are absolutely enormous earthworks in progress! Both rabbits are completely filthy, eating twice as much as usual and very busy indeed!

I don’t mind them digging at all. I’m not precious about my garden at all and I know it’s a natural thing for them to do. I’m just wondering if anyone might have any idea why they’ve suddenly decided to start digging a bunker when they’ve shown no interest at all for the last 5 years!

Might be something as simple as the change in the weather! Now the weather is cooler they don't have to spend all day sleeping through the heat and the humidity.

Do make sure they can't dig too deep - there is always a danger of tunnel collapse or getting so ambitious they make a grand escape and get caught by a predator.

Ours are doing exactly the same currently! We’ve had to put mesh down! Maybe it is the change in weather. Ours were indoor bunnies until quite recently so I wondered if they were just excited.

I hadn’t considered the possibility of tunnel collapse! There’s huge earthworks going on, the whole tunnel with the fake grass on top is pretty much full, they have to flatten themselves right down to squeeze in.

Is tunnel collapse a common thing? They don’t seem to have any real rabbitty instincts so I can’t imagine they’re particularly good tunnellers. I’m hoping the amount of earth looks more than it is as it’s all loose.

It’s not a total disaster if they tunnel out, our garden is completely enclosed. I only let them out when I’m around normally as I worry about cats and seagulls. But if they had their tunnels to dash back to they might be a bit safer.