Rabbits and red urine

In the winter, I was ferreting in the snow inside a plantation. I noticed that around the trees nibbled by the rabbits, their urine appeared to be reddish. Why is this?

When we see red urine, most of us instantly think it’s blood. However, the natural colour of healthy wild rabbit urine can be deep red. This is due to the plant pigments in their diet, such as from the bark of plantation trees, which they nibble to get to the fat-building sap.

Also, if the snow has covered most of the rabbit population’s food sources, the rabbits will be stressed, and this may result in reddish urine.

Dehydration may also concentrate the urine, causing it to become darker in colour and intensifying any pigmentation that is present. SW

How to spot it and where to find it: This common mushroom is usually found on roadsides, verges, woodland edges, lawns, flowerbeds and any disturbed soil, and it is usually found in large numbers.

The cap is long and cylindrical, with flaking running upwards in a conical shape from the bottom edges. It is usually white, off-white and sometimes has a pale pink tinge. The stem is white, too, and sometimes hollow.

Interesting facts: The only similar fungus to this is the magpie (Native Britain, 30 December 2020). However, the latter has light scales on a dark background. The inkcap does turn black eventually, when they deliquesce from the bottom of the cap up.

The shaggy inkcap is best picked and eaten while young and must be cooked before consumption. If the caps have begun to open when you picked them, you must eat them the same day or they will liquefy into a black inky mess.

The shaggy inkcap can grow to 10cm tall or more and, despite its delicate appearance, is quite robust. One was reported to have lifted a 75cm by 60cm paving slab by 4cm in 48 hours. NJS

Red urine in rabbits is a result of the plant pigments in their diet