Wheaton in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Domestic Rabbits

Cuniculus

— More than 50 breeds display a range of sizes and colors. —

Domestic Rabbits Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, January 6, 2026

1. Domestic Rabbits Marker

Inscription.
Wild rabbits were domesticated 2,000 years ago.
Today, there are about 50 domestic rabbit breeds displaying a range of sizes and colors. Domestic rabbits can live 5-10 years.

Did you know?
A male rabbit is a buck. A female rabbit is a doe. A baby rabbit is a kit.

The largest domestic rabbits... and the smallest.
At 20 pounds, a Flemish Glant (shown above left next to a Shetland sheepdog) is the largest domestic rabbit breed. A Netherland Dwarf (shown above at right) is one of the smallest rabbit breeds, weighing less than 2.5 pounds.

Plan ahead before adopting a rabbit as a pet. They need specialized care to stay healthy.

Rabbits are equipped to avoid predators.
With an excellent sense of smell and large ears, rabbits can detect nearby predators. To avoid capture, they'll sit motionless or run and hide. Bobcats, hawks, and coyotes prey on rabbits.

Do domestic rabbits make good pets?
Pet

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rabbits can be litter-trained or kept outdoors in hutches. Rabbits that are socialized to people can make good pets, but they do need special care and handling. Therefore, rabbits may not be the right pet for everyone.

What if you find a wild baby rabbit or a nest?
Leave it alone. Mother rabbits come to the nest only at dawn and dusk. Baby rabbits live on their own at just one month old. If a baby rabbit can run away from you, it doesn't need help.

People breed rabbits for meat and fur.
Prized for its silky texture, Angora rabbit fur is used to make winter clothing. In many countries around the world, rabbit meat is a staple of local cuisine.

Fur from an Angora rabbit is widely used to make fabrics and yarn.

Erected by Cosley Zoo.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Animals.

Location. 41° 52.702′ N, 88° 7.246′ W.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, January 6, 2026

2. Domestic Rabbits Marker

A rabbit perches on a nearby log at Cosley Zoo.

Marker is in Wheaton, Illinois, in DuPage County. It can be reached from Gary Avenue south of Jewell Road, on the right when traveling south. The marker is in the rabbit section of Cosley Zoo, just behind the caboose. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1356 North Gary Avenue, Wheaton IL 60187, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: North American Porcupine (here, next to this marker); Chicken (a few steps from this marker); North American Bison • Blanding's Turtle • Cheetah

Cosley Zoo entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, January 6, 2026

3. Cosley Zoo entrance

(within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named North American Bison • Blanding's Turtle • Cheetah (within shouting distance of this marker); Guinea Hog (within shouting distance of this marker); Wetlands Sing with Life! (approx. 0.4 miles away); No Need to Fear Fire (approx. 0.4 miles away); World War I Obelisk (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wheaton.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 55 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 7, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.