thoughts on mirrors

MIRRORS: An anecdotal, then researched, experience on what rabbits will do when presented with a mirror.

For those of you who don't know, Marshmallow was a single rabbit for the first year and a half. However, we noticed she had a fascination with mirrors and would groom her reflection everytime she passed by. She'd even make a point to double back to groom the mirror.

Rabbits don't necessarily recognize it's themselves in the mirror, so Marshmallow was actually saying hello to the rabbit she saw. This is why a 2005 study by Jones and Clives showed support for lab rabbits having mirrors for comfort (will link the study in stories).

Keep in mind, not all rabbits are equal. Some may get extra skittish or aggressive over the perceived invasion of territory.

With all this said, mirrors are a short-term form of entertainment, so don't think a mirror is a replacement for an actual rabbit friend.

Fun fact: mirroring in rabbits during bonding is seen as a positive behavior, so your rabbit may be telling you something the next time you see her engaging with her reflection!