bunny hugger

plural bunny huggers

1. derogatoryslangAn environmental campaigner who protests for animal rights.

   Zookeepers consider bunny huggers to be overly emotional and uninformed about animal care, and they often refuse volunteer applications on these grounds.

   2021, Caitlin Donahue Wylie, Preparing Dinosaurs: The Work behind the Scenes, page 93

   1 more example

   Animal liberationists like Rosmarino resented the tree huggers' insensitivity to animals and reluctance to risk jail time, while more mainstream environmentalists like AFR's Jeff Berman disagreed with the bunny huggers' wacky morality and in-your-face tactics. The two groups' differences were in full view as they teamed up to parade through Vail last winter.

   1999, Mother Jones Magazine (Mar–Apr 1999, page 64)