Wander throughout the western United States, be it from eastern Montana to west Texas or west to Central Nevada and southern California and you are sure to find these tiny cute looking rabbits flocking the gardens or in the desert fields. Their occurrence is distributed across America, from the dry and desert regions of Arizona, Texas and New Mexico to the Hudson River area and New England. An eastern cottontail rabbit hides in thick cover. Eastern cottontails usually move only short distances, and they may remain sitting very still for up to 15 minutes at a time. Eastern cottontails have two different fur coats each year. Eastern cottontail can survive up to 3 years in the wild. In summer, they consume fruits and tender green herbaceous vegetation when it is available such as clovers, crabgrasses, alfalfa, bluegrasses, quackgrass, crabgrasses, redtop, plantains, chickweed, and dandelion. cottontails are found in dryland, arid areas., wood & grasslands. The digestion of these substances is made possible by caecal fermentation. Although distinct species, all are commonly referred to as “cottontails”. Cottontail Rabbit Facts – Habitat and Food. Eastern cottontails have eyes that protrude a bit from their heads, giving them almost 360-degree vision. Grayish brown to reddish upperparts contrast with generally whitish fur underneath. The fur pattern and color of the Desert Cottontail blends in quite nicely with the terrain of their native habitats. In some areas of their range, these rabbits are threatened by livestock competition and collisions with automobiles. On average they can litter for 3-4 times in a year, with 3-9 young ones. The desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), also known as Audubon’s cottontail, is a New World cottontail rabbit, and a member of the family Leporidae. Description. It is chunky, red-brown, or gray-brown in appearance, with large hind feet, long ears, and a short, fluffy white tail. The breeding season varies depending on the location and the elevation but generally occurs between February and September. Cottontail rabbits are year-round residents in Pennsylvania. Written by Kristi L. Sullivan and Megan Hilbert. Litters usually disperse at about 7 weeks and reproductive maturity occurs at about 2 to 3 months of age. Physical Description. It sports a white or light brown spot on the forehead. They are red/brown or grey/brown in colour with a white coloured underside. Best 10 Eastern Cottontail facts, Features, Diet, Behavior Best 15 Checkered Giant Rabbit Facts, size, weight, diet Best 15 Marsh rabbit facts, subspecies, appearance, diet Regarding predators , it’s a hard-knock life for a cottontail. This is true regardless of the color of the rabbit, which can vary from gray to reddish brown, according to National Geographic. let’s have a look on them; They are productive breeders. Eastern cottontail produces two types of feces. During the summer they have short brown fur with a white belly. The ventral surface is white. In the summer, green plants are favored. The Eastern cottontail is the most common rabbit species in North America. They are any of several North and Central American rabbit species of the genus Sylvilagus. Wild cottontails have a life expectancy of less than two years. * The cottontail is slight of build compared to the snowshoe hare. NC Wildlife Resource Commission CC BY-SA - 4.0. Its short, fluffy tail is also white, hence the name cottontail. 1988. Female just after giving is ready to mate. It usually inhabits fields, meadows, swamps, deserts, prairies and farms (where it can produce significant damage). It is well-adapted to live in close proximity to humans, and suburban yards can provide ample habitat, with food and cover to support a family of cottontails. Cottontail rabbits are among the 20 lagomorph species in the genus Sylvilagus, found in the Americas. It is the most common rabbit species in North America. Each year about 80 percent of the Minnesota's cottontail population dies from weather, predators, or disease. The ears are 2–3 inches long (4.9–7.6 cm) and held straight up; they can swivel independently of e… Males and females are generally the same size and color. Written by Kristi L. Sullivan and Megan Hilbert. In the winter it eats the woody parts of plants like the twigs and the bark of brambles, birch, oak, dogwood and maple trees. The gestation period lasts around 25-35 days. Print Image. They are usually found in and around farms including fields, pastures, open woods, thickets associated with fencerows, wooded thickets, forest edges, and suburban areas with adequate food and cover. Rabbits resemble rodents, but are actually lagomorphs. Some interesting facts about the mammal desert cottontail rabbit, have been presented in this article. Cottontail rabbits live in America. The marsh rabbit can swim well and is found only where water is present, like the marshes and swamps off the coasts in the Eastern and Southern regions of America. Its close cousin, the swamp rabbit, is also water… Their range is from eastern Montana to west Texas and into northern and Central Mexico. Cottontails are rarely come out of their burrows to feed on windy days because the wind interferes with their hearing capabilities. Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae. In captivity, the Eastern cottontail can live up to 8 years. This rabbit undergoes two molts per year. Females tend to be a bit larger than the males. However, individuals in the northern part of its range are larger than those in southern areas. The exact time of breeding depends on the temperature, food, and light. The spring molt, lasting from mid-April to mid-July, leaves a short summer coat that is more brown. Food Skip to Food. The tail is short, fluffy, 30-70 mm (1.2-2.8 in) in length, brown above and white below. Sylvilagus floridanus – Eastern cottontail (widest distribution) S. audubonii – Audobon’s cottontail. Eastern cottontails are crepuscular to nocturnal feeders and although they usually spend most of the daylight hours resting in their forms, they can be seen at any time of day. Cottontails use open areas with dense cover of shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. In the summer, green plants are favored. It sports a white or light brown … S. bachmani – Brush rabbit. Generally they shelter in thickets or forms - shallow depressions made in tall grass or scraped in the ground. They shed twice a year. As such, each species has a slightly different habitat and climatic conditions to adapt to. Most Sylvilagus species have stub tails with white undersides that show when they retreat, giving them their characteristic name. Although they are two separate species, these two rabbits look very similar – the Eastern Cottontail is slightly larger, has longer ears, and its eyes are half again as large as the New England Cottontail’s. The Eastern cottontail is very good at surviving, but its lifespan is short, 3 years at a maximum, so this helps in keeping population in control. Adult eastern cottontails reach a length of 395 to 477 mm. It also lives in a very different type of habitat. Most cottontail rabbits of the genus have a short tail with a white underside that shows when they are running away. Its fur is shorter and brown in summer and longer and gray in winter. Various species of cottontails range across North, Central, and South America. Eastern cottontails can be found in the eastern and south-central United States, southern Canada, eastern Mexico, Central America, and northernmost South America. The body is lighter in color with a white underside on the tail. Common native rabbit foods. They have a body length between 38 and 49 cms (15 - 19.5 inches), a tail length between 2.5 and 7 cms (1 - 2.75 inches) and they weigh between 1 and 1.5 kgs (2.25 - 3.25 lbs). Here are some more fun facts about the Eastern Cottontail: 1. Cottontails use open areas with dense cover of shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. Eastern cottontails forage at night, grazing mainly on grasses, but also nibbling small shrubs. Cottontail rabbits are tiny little things, ranging in size from 15.5 to 18.75 inches, and weighing as little as 28 ounces -- although boys … The New England cottontail has a darker back, a broad black stripe on the outer edge of the ear, and usually a black spot between the ears. They are active year-round and typically live in one home range throughout their lifetime. Some interesting facts about the mammal desert cottontail rabbit, have been presented in this article. Eastern cottontails are solitary and very territorial animals. A popular small game species, they also appeal to nonhunters. The Dessert Cottontail (scientific name Sylvilagus audubonii), which is also frequently known as Audobon’s Cottontail, is found throughout much of North America, being specifically common in Baja California (Mexico, Central Nevada, and Western Texas. Their diet varies between seasons due to availability. On average they can litter for 3-4 times in a year, with 3-9 young ones. Common native rabbit foods. She lines it with grass and soft fur she plucked from her own body for insulation. This gives them their name, "cottontails." The gestation period of cottontails lasts 26 days and in … S. palustris – Marsh rabbit. By Lanessa Cago on April 25 2017 in Society. Not so for the eastern cottontail. Named for its white, cottony-looking tail, the Eastern Cottontail is 15–19 inches long (38–48 cm) and weighs 2–4 pounds (0.9–1.8 kg). 2014. The upper body parts are typically reddish-brown, lower parts are white, and it often has a white spot on the forehead. Eastern cottontail can be distinguished from the other common lagomorph of eastern Ontario, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), by its smaller size, colouration (it does not turn white in winter as hares do), and physical features (for example, shorter ears). Eastern cottontail rabbit. There are several species of cottontail rabbit, but the eastern cottontail is the most common. They are prolific breeders. The remaining 20 percent have little trouble repopulating the landscape. The eastern cottontail shows the white underside of its short tail when it is running. Young begin to move out of the nest for short trips by 12 to 16 days and are completely weaned and independent by 4 to 5 weeks. Archaeological evidence indicates that large mammals were the predominant food of southeastern Native Americans. The eastern cottontail is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. Eastern Cottontail Facts. Archaeological evidence indicates that large mammals were the predominant food of southeastern Native Americans. Its underside fur is white. They prefer an area where they can hide quickly but be out in the open. Its rump and flanks are gray, and it has a prominent rufous patch on its nape. Description: A medium-sized mammal with soft fur, large hind legs, long ears, and a fluffy tail. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Wander throughout the western United States, be it from eastern Montana to west Texas or west to Central Nevada and southern California and you are sure to find these tiny cute looking rabbits flocking the gardens or in the desert fields. They are active year-round and do not hibernate. Today the New England Cottontail is restricted to less than a fifth of its range in the early 1900s, whereas the Eastern Cottontail can be found throughout New England. Eastern cottontail prefers open spaces. The eastern cottontail rabbit is a midsize rabbit that generally resides throughout eastern North America, from Canada to Mexico. There are around 35 subspecies of eastern cottontails that can be found in the eastern parts of North, Central and South America. Print Image. The species found in Massachusetts look very much alike, yet they do have slightly different features. When feeding cottontail rabbits typically only use their nose to move and adjust the position of the food that they place directly in front of their front paws on the ground. A dense, buffy brown underfur and longer, coarser gray- and black-tipped guard hairs cover the back of the eastern cottontail. The eastern cottontail is the most familiar rabbit in Virginia and easily recognized by most Virginians. They are also found in swamps and marshes and usually avoid dense and deep woods. The eastern cottontail is found from extreme southern Canada south to South America. Females do not stay in the nest with their kits but return to the opening of the nest to nurse, usually twice a day. The hair on the upper part of the body is a dense, buff-brown underfur covered by longer, coarser, gray- and black-tipped guard hairs. The eastern cottontail is a typical rabbit with long ears and hind legs. Physical Characteristics Cottontails are named for their short brown and white tails. They are any of several North and Central American rabbit species of the genus Sylvilagus. Pregnancy in female lasts 25 to 35 days and ends with 3 to 8 babies (usually 7). Eastern Cottontail kits might be born in an old burrow, but it’s more likely to be a narrow hole 4–6 inches deep (10–15 cm), dug by their mother in tall grasses, under thick bushes, or another place she thinks is safe. The cottontail must reingest fecal pellets to reabsorb nutrients from its food after this process. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Wild rye: Gallberry: Kentucky bluegrass: Wild strawberry: Aster: Phlox: Blackberry: Sumac: New Jersey tea : Sassafrass: Cover Skip to Cover. Habitat. Pennsylvania's cottontail rabbit population was relatively small prior to European settlement, when forests covered much of the state. Females construct their nests alone; these are slanting holes dug in soft soil and lined with vegetation and white fur from their underside. There are some few fun facts we have found of this cottontail rabbit. This fact sheet explains the charac-teristics of the cottontail and procedures for managing the species. The Eastern cottontail is the most common rabbit species in North America. The young are born with a very fine coat of hair and are blind. EASTERN COTTONTAIL FACTS. It is one of the most common rabbit species in North America. S. palustris – Marsh rabbit. 2014. ), mink, weasels, fishers, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, and wolves (Minnesota DNR 2020). Adirondack Mammals. With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. The eastern cottontail differs only slightly, with a paler coat, a cinnamon-rust nape, and a narrow black margin extending along the front edge and tip of the ear. Habitat. Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), New England cottontail (Silvilagus transitionalis), Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). They are typically about 16.5 inches long and weigh approximately 3 lbs. Finally, a handful of species also reside in different parts of South America. * The cottontail is slight of build compared to the snowshoe hare. Eastern cottontail rabbits do not dig burrows, although they may shelter in disused ones dug by other animals. Eastern cottontail has brown, reddish-brown or grey backs and white belly. The kits develop the same coloring after a few weeks, but they also have a white blaze that goes down their forehead; this marking eventually disappears. let’s have a look on them; They are productive breeders. It has large brown eyes and large ears to see and listen for danger. Eastern cottontail can reach the speed of 18 miles per hour and move in a zigzag manner to escape from the predators. They are typically about 16.5 inches long and weigh approximately 3 lbs. Food Skip to Food. Females tend to be a bit larger than the males. Its appearance differs from that of a hare in that it has a brownish-gray coloring around the head and neck. Cottontail rabbits cannot be tamed. The eastern cottontail is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. 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