Eastern Cottontail - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

ORDER: Lagomorpha (Rabbits, Hares, Pikas)
FAMILY: Leporidae (Rabbits and Hares)
SPECIES: Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
The Eastern Cottontail is one of the most common rabbit species in North America. - They are solitary and very territorial. - They can sometimes be observed standing on their hind feet watching for predators, such as coyotes, foxes, weasels, eagles and hawks. - This animal is active at night and does not hibernate in winter. - They are hunted as game in many areas of the country. -
SIZE	The average adult weighs about 2-4 pounds; however the female tends to be heavier.
DESCRIPTION	The Eastern Cottontail is chunky red-brown or gray-brown in appearance with large hind feet, long ears. It has a short fluffy white tail with a hairy underside. Sexual Dimorphism: Females are larger than the males
NESTING	The female rabbit builds a nest in a depression in the ground and lines it with soft materials and fur from her chest. The normal litter is 3 to 6 young, but litters of 8 or 9 are not uncommon. They may have three, four or more litters a year.
BEHAVIOR	The Eastern Cottontail is nocturnal (Active at night) but is also active during early dawn and late dusk. When chased, it runs (up to 15mph) leaping from side to side in a zigzag pattern, sometimes jumping 10-15 feet. This confuses the predator and many times allows them to safely get away.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE	The Eastern Cottontail can be found in most of the eastern United States. Originally, the Eastern Cottontail was not found in the New England area, but it has been introduced there and now competes for habitat there with the native New England Cottontail. It can also be found in southwestern United States in the states of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Its range expanded north as forests were cleared by settlers.
HABITAT	The eastern cottontail can be found in meadows, shrubby areas, fields, swamps woodlands, and thickets.
DIET	The Eastern Cottontail is an herbivore. In the summer, it eats a variety of green vegetation such as grasses and clover. In the winter, it eats twigs, buds and the bark of bushes and small trees. They are considered nocturnal, but they are also active in early dawn at at late dusk.

Rabbit or Hare

The hare is generally larger than the rabbit and has longer ears. Hares have long muscular legs and can jump further than a rabbit. Hares are born furred and with open eyes, thus they are hence able to fend for themselves very quickly after birth, that is to say they are precocial.

Rabbits are born naked with closed eyes and completely helpless. Rabbits also have the habit of living in colonies in underground burrows (The exception is the cottontail of North America, which does not dig burrows; its nest is on the surface, usually in dense vegetation.)

INTERESTING FACTS

Hibernate

There are different states of hibernation, The following information is general in nature.

This is a time when animals ‘sleep’ through cold weather. This is not a normal sleep, but a deep state of dormancy, where body activities are greatly reduced. During hibernation, an animal's heart rate and breathing slow down and its body temperature drops. During this period, it uses very little energy. It survives by getting its energy requirements from built up body fat. Many animals would not survive the winter if they didn't hibernate.

Please email with any ideas or comments concerning this web page.

The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.


CLICK ON PICTURES FOR ENLARGED IMAGE

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Groton Township Tompkins County, New York


EsCt-204_005885	EsCt-204_000496


EsCt-204_000582	EsCt-204_000579

Hunter Township Greene County, New York


	EsCt_204_055061-Young

EsCt-204_055053	EsCt-204_055062-Young

Cottontail Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes