A NATURALIST’S GUIDE TO THE YEAR (1995) - Young rabbits give off no scent. Cottontails will make their home in a dense thicket, clearing paths throughout. Rabbits are the target of many predators and have developed many abilities to protect themselves. Their ears are a response to the benefit of hearing. The vibrations from thumping travels farther through the ground than through air and are picked up by the rabbit’s sensitive hearing. They also sleep with their rear feet under them in a "loaded" position, so, if alerted to danger, will automatically spring away. This response can literally happen before the rabbit is awake. Rabbits leave scent marks by rubbing their chins on objects.