Why doesn't a bunny die at 10 F?

[StageLeft]

I am a large human. If I put on a pair of pants and sweater and go out when it's 10F it starts sucking within about 5 seconds. Within 5 minutes I imagine I'd be a shivering wreck. However, there is a bunny by our house that has endured temps like this, we even had it lower with a wind chill. Bunnies are small, they have a thin layer of fur, and are warm blooded. It's not like there's much food around here, so how can a warm blooded creature that has so little body mass not freeze to death? I saw a squirrel today honking down a berry and damn aren't these things supposed to hibernate or something? It is no-joke-cold out there, I want somebody to explain how a small-massed warm-blooded creature with very little insulation can tolerate temps like this.

 

[RichardE]

It snorgles with other bunnies..


and FBB

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Making babies kinda heats up the rabbit hole.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

A vicious beast capable of decapitating a full-grown man cannot succumb to mere cold.

 

[Iron Woode]

I see squirrels and rabbits in the winter all the time.

They have fur and a fat layer and they eat all the time.

 

[Exterous]

I think it has to do with their higher metabolism. They build up a layer of fat during the summer and then they burn through it more quickly to generate heat/energy

 

[keird]

When the snow cave is a rockin'...

 

[FP]

snorgle

 

[Modular]

I <3 BunBun

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I see squirrels and rabbits in the winter all the time.

They have fur and a fat layer and they eat all the time.

So do I, but the cold still freezes me!

It probably is metabolism, though, they must just burn a bunch of energy to stay warm.

 

[Red Squirrel]

10F is not really that cold. I'm usually outside in tshirt shoveling snow at that temp. Start off with a coat but after shoveling 1/4 of the driveway the coat is off.

Squirrels and I assume bunnies have been known to live normally outside in temps of like -30C which is about -22F. Their fur helps a lot. In the cold what kills us humans the most is windchill, but a furry animal is not affected as much due to their fur.

Though sometimes I wonder about my cat. She sleeps in her little house thing that's on top of the heater. It must be like +35 in there LOL. Cats tend to really hate the cold.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I see squirrels and rabbits in the winter all the time.

They have fur and a fat layer and they eat all the time.

So do I, but the cold still freezes me!

It probably is metabolism, though, they must just burn a bunch of energy to stay warm.

true.

and yes.

Rabbits also live in Northern Ontario and NWT where -30°C is the high. They are designed for this environment.

 

[ObiDon]

they have a high metabolism and a lot of blood flow... the same reason my wang doesn't freeze

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: PieIsAwesome
A vicious beast capable of decapitating a full-grown man cannot succumb to mere cold.

In Search of the Holy Grail FTW

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
10F is not really that cold. I'm usually outside in tshirt shoveling snow at that temp. Start off with a coat but after shoveling 1/4 of the driveway the coat is off.

Squirrels and I assume bunnies have been known to live normally outside in temps of like -30C which is about -22F. Their fur helps a lot. In the cold what kills us humans the most is windchill, but a furry animal is not affected as much due to their fur.

Though sometimes I wonder about my cat. She sleeps in her little house thing that's on top of the heater. It must be like +35 in there LOL. Cats tend to really hate the cold.

If you are in a t-shirt in 10F, even while shoveling, something is wrong with your internal thermostat, honestly!!

 

[Q]

Text

 

[keird]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Text

We've been pwned.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I see squirrels and rabbits in the winter all the time.

They have fur and a fat layer and they eat all the time.

So do I, but the cold still freezes me!

It probably is metabolism, though, they must just burn a bunch of energy to stay warm.

true.

and yes.

Rabbits also live in Northern Ontario and NWT where -30°C is the high. They evolved slowly into a form that is better suited for this environment.

Fixed for more correct scientific terminology and my own personal amusement.

 

[brxndxn]

Man.. I'm so glad I live in Florida.. Seriously.. anyone that doesn't live here is retarded.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
Man.. I'm so glad I live in Florida.. Seriously.. anyone that doesn't live here is retarded.

Yeah dude, especially those fuckin bushmen. What a bunch of idiots.

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Text

*SQUEAL* bun bun!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
10F is not really that cold. I'm usually outside in tshirt shoveling snow at that temp. Start off with a coat but after shoveling 1/4 of the driveway the coat is off.

Squirrels and I assume bunnies have been known to live normally outside in temps of like -30C which is about -22F. Their fur helps a lot. In the cold what kills us humans the most is windchill, but a furry animal is not affected as much due to their fur.

Though sometimes I wonder about my cat. She sleeps in her little house thing that's on top of the heater. It must be like +35 in there LOL. Cats tend to really hate the cold.

If you are in a t-shirt in 10F, even while shoveling, something is wrong with your internal thermostat, honestly!!

Nah physical activity makes me sweat easily so it does not take time for me to have to take my coat off. I tend to keep my mitts on though since the metal bar of the scoop gets a cold.

When I go workout after I'm done I walk out of the gym still in shorts and tshirt (with coat on since I already have my gym bag to carry). I'm not cold at all when I do this even in -30. But by the time I drive home I get in the house rather fast.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
Man.. I'm so glad I live in Florida.. Seriously.. anyone that doesn't live here is retarded.

I'll keep my snow, you keep your hurricanes.

The snow does not destroy my house every year.

 

[her209]

Small surface area to volume ratio.

 

[SampSon]

Ive wondered the same thing.

Where are you that it's 5 degrees?