Is it true that a rabbit in heat will calm down on its own if left alone?

Question from a rabbit owner:

Previously, we brought a new rabbit into the house. Since then, our older rabbit has been showing signs of restlessness—running around the cage and trying to get to the new rabbit in the adjacent cage, which is separated by a divider but still allows them to see each other.

On the first day, the older rabbit was very anxious, had soft stools, and ate less. So we decided to cover the divider with a cloth to block their view. After that, the older rabbit started eating normally again and seemed calmer.

However, we’ve noticed that every time we pick up the older rabbit, his genitals are exposed—something that didn’t happen before. We once let them both play together in a shared space, and although the older rabbit didn’t try to hurt the younger one, he attempted to mount her.

Since then, we’ve strictly separated them, but the older rabbit still runs around the cage restlessly and makes noises while running.

We would like to ask:

Will this behavior improve on its own if we just give it more time?
We're planning to get him neutered next month. Is there any additional risk we should be aware of in the meantime?
How can we reduce his mating urges in the meantime?
We’ve tried putting a stuffed toy in the cage, but he doesn’t mount it. He is 1 year and 4 months old.

Veterinarian’s Response:

Rabbits can exhibit mating behavior at any time. Female rabbits can also ovulate upon stimulation—such as being mounted by a male—which leads to what is known as induced ovulation. Mating can happen so quickly that owners may not even notice. If both rabbits are sexually mature, there's a high chance of pregnancy if they've ever been together, even briefly. So it’s something to keep an eye on.

Neutering a male rabbit helps reduce sexual urges by removing the testicles, which cuts off the main source of male hormones. This usually leads to a reduction in mating behavior. However, some neutered rabbits may still display mounting or restless behavior, though they can no longer impregnate a female.

During the mating period, a rabbit may:

Try to mount other rabbits
Nip or bite around the neck area
Run around restlessly
Eat less or refuse food
Have reduced bowel movements
Appear more stressed and agitated due to elevated hormone levels
This is why male and female rabbits are usually kept completely separate—to prevent aggression, stress, and unintended mating.

Source: epofclinic