"Rabbit Poop" Cookies

European Rabbits are lagomorphs (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Eat South American buck, Henry, exploring the new smells of the day in the rabbit run. Yes, he too eats his poop sometimes.

Other lagomorphs include hares and pikas (Look these up, they are seriously cute)

Rabbits are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Lagomorpha, family Leporidae.

SEE MORE ABOUT CLASSIFICATION HERE

Rabbits are coprophageous meaning they eat some of their poop. To be specific they eat a special poop called a cecotrope that they make in a special compartment of their digestive tract called the cecum. The cecum breaks food down and ferments it, allowing for more vitamins and proteins to become available when that special poo is eaten by the rabbit. 

Cecotropes look different from regular rabbit poops. They are wetter and contain a string of small poops together. Regular poop is dryer and forms in singular larger balls. 

Rabbits need cecotropes to live. They get around 20% of their protein intake from eating the cecotropes. 

Other animals that also practice coprophagy:

rodents (mice, rats, hamster, naked mole rats, chinchillas and guinea pigs), dogs, mountain beavers, baby elephants, hippopotamus calves and nonhuman primates (including gorillas, orangutans and rhesus monkeys)

Wow, that’s a lot of animals! 

You can visit the rabbits at Eat South Tuesday through Saturday or by appointment.

Here is a recipe for “Rabbit Poop” Cookies (if you dare try) to help you remember this little lesson in coprophagy:

Ingredients:

½ cup tahini (sesame seed butter)

¼ cup coconut sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract (gluten free)

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

⅓ cup SunButter, any smooth variety

½ teaspoon sea salt

¼ cup toasted sunflower seeds

⅓ cup unsweetened coconut flakes

¼ cup ground flaxseed

3 ounces dairy free dark chocolate chips (Enjoy Life brand)

1 tablespoon organic chia seeds

1 tablespoon honey 

Directions: 

Mix tahini, sweetener and vanilla until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Refrigerate for 30 minute.

-Remove from refrigerator and roll into 1 inch balls, place evenly on parchment covered cookie sheet.

-Freeze for 30 minutes before serving.

-Store any uneaten energy balls in the freezer to enjoy later.

NOTE: This recipe is low carb, paleo, dairy free, gluten free and vegan!

View full recipe here for a larger portion: Healthy energy balls