The constant and constant wiggling of the nose is one of the main characteristics of rabbits. It is usually observed when they are resting or sleeping, but the nose does not always seem to wiggle in time with breathing and occasionally even remains completely still. What is the purpose of nose wiggling?

 

Wiggling its nose is important for a rabbit's survival in the wild. On the one hand, it serves to supply the lungs with air, while at the same time the air is sniffed for possible dangers and to identify friends and enemies or mates.

When a human smells, the nostrils widen to let in as much air as possible. Rabbits do the same, it's just more obvious with them because they sniff the air almost continuously. The air is not only used for breathing, but also for sniffing out danger, food and any changes. 

Rabbits have more than 50 million receptors in their nose. Humans have "only" 6 million. This allows rabbits to analyse their environment with every breath of air.

Like many animals, rabbits have two different types of odour recognition: the olfactory cells, which detect odours in the air, and the Jaconson's organ, which recognises moisture particles and pheromones from the air.

Moist air carries more odours than dry air. This can be noticed after a rain shower, for example, when flowers and shrubs smell more intense than before. When inhaling, the rabbit's nose moistens the inhaled air and thus increases the intensity of the odours. This makes it easier for rabbits to explore their surroundings and assess their neighbours.

Rabbits are prey animals and their good sense of smell helps them in the daily struggle for survival. The eyes on the side of the head give them a wide field of vision and the large, mobile ears make it easier for them to pick up sounds. The wiggling of the nose, however, is probably the most important characteristic for survival in the wild.

The fact that rabbits keep their noses still from time to time is a sign of their level of relaxation. In most cases, they have not detected any acute potential danger and therefore feel temporarily safe. Sometimes, however, it also means that the odours they have ingested have confused them and they do not yet know how to react.