Rabbits like carrot leaves, not the part of the carrot we eat.
The stereotype of Bugs Bunny munching on the end of a carrot comes from farmers complaining about rabbits destroying their carrots. Cartoonists misinterpreted this either accidentally or intentionally for better visuals.
(Humans can eat carrot greens too, though most people find other leafy vegetables tastier and easier to prepare).
Bugs Bunny is interesting in that it had a large cultural influence.
It also turned "nimrod" into an insult, when people misunderstood Bugs Bunny sarcastically calling Elmer Fudd "Nimrod". Nimrod is a mighty hunter from the Bible, and Bugs' expression was equivalent to calling somebody stupid "Einstein".
So now "nimrod" effectively means "moron", though that wasn't the intention.
> Rabbits like carrot leaves, not the part of the carrot we eat.
I took care of a pair of rabbits for a bit as a child. As relatively poor people, I couldn't afford to feed the rabbits actual carrots. I remember feeling amused at how the rabbits would (seemingly gladly) eat the green leaves of carrots (something we threw away) and not complain. I feel better about not being able to feed them actual carrots.
Thank you for the trip down memory lane. It is amazing how much we actually remember but never think about...
My father also grew up poor with rabbits. They would feed the rabbits things they would otherwise throw away, like carrot leaves and potato peels. Then they would eat the rabbits. Great way to turn inedible plants into edible protein.
The stereotype of Bugs Bunny munching on the end of a carrot comes from farmers complaining about rabbits destroying their carrots. Cartoonists misinterpreted this either accidentally or intentionally for better visuals.
(Humans can eat carrot greens too, though most people find other leafy vegetables tastier and easier to prepare).