Why are rabbits' ears so long?
For grown-ups: the science
A bunny's long ears help it hear well and let extra heat escape from its body.
A rabbit's ears are large and work like sound-collecting dishes, and rabbits can move each ear separately to figure out which direction a sound is coming from. Ears also have lots of blood vessels, and especially in hot weather, increased blood flow lets heat escape through the ears to help control body temperature. Ear length varies by species and habitat, and species that live in hot, dry regions tend to have longer ears.
What about...?
Ask your child's own question
Transcript
A bunny in the field turns its long ears this way and that, listening all around. Why are its ears so long?
Long ears pick up even tiny sounds from far away. The bunny moves its ears to find out just where a sound is coming from.
Lots of blood flows through a bunny's long ears. When it gets hot, that heat escapes through the ears to help cool the bunny's body.
A bunny's long ears help it listen closely and let out extra heat. That helps it stay happy and healthy out in the field.
A bunny's long ears are experts at both listening and staying cool.