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Cottontail Rabbit

Sylvilagus floridanus

Photo by KarenL
Published on Project Noah
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35.8987, -86.9624

Field Notes

Description:

There are several species of cottontail rabbit, but the eastern cottontail is the most common. It can be found from Canada to South America and, in the United States, from the East Coast to the Great Plains. Cottontails range from reddish brown to gray, but all feature the distinctive "cotton ball" tail for which they are named.

Habitat:

These rabbits seek out habitat on the fringes of open spaces, such as fields, meadows, and farms, but can adapt to other habitats—including those of humans.

They browse at night on grasses and herbs and are fond of garden fare such as peas and, of course, lettuce. In winter, their diet becomes a bit coarse and consists of bark, twigs, and buds. During the day, cottontails often remain hidden in vegetation. If spotted, they flee from prey with a zigzag pattern, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 18 miles (29 kilometers) an hour.

Notes:

This little guy was barely the size of a tennis ball. We unfortunately injured him while cutting the grass but luckily he made a good recovery after a night in a shoebox in our pantry but sadly the other little guy didn't make it.

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Photographed
PublishedAugust 18, 2011

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