Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
Description
:
The familiar cottontail of eastern
U.S. Grayish brown above, grizzled with black; forehead often has
white spot. Distinct rust-colored nape. Tail cottony white below.
Feet whitish above. Long ears. L 14 3/4–18 1/4" (375–463 mm); T 1
1/2–2 1/2" (39–65 mm); HF 3 3/8"–4 1/8" (87–104 mm); E 1 7/8–2 5/8"
(49–68 mm); Wt 2–4 lb (900–1,800 g).
Similar Species
:New England Cottontail usually
lacks rust-colored nape and has black patch between ears. Desert
Cottontail is usually smaller, with slightly longer ears. Marsh and
Swamp rabbits have rust-colored feet. Snowshoe Hare is usually
larger and uniform dark brown in summer.
Voice
:During the breeding season adults produce a
throaty, bellowing roar heard over considerable distance. Young give
a high-pitched call: y-eonk, y-eonk, y-eonk
Breeding
:Mates February–September. Gestation
28–32 days. 3 or 4 litters per year, each of 1–9 young (usually 4 or
5).
Habitat
:Brushy areas, old fields, woods, and
cultivated areas; especially around thickets and brush
piles.
Range
:Eastern U.S. except for New England; west
through North Dakota, Kansas, Texas; also in n New Mexico and
Arizona.
Discussion
:The most common rabbit in much of the
U.S., the Eastern Cottontail is primarily nocturnal, but is abroad
near dawn and dusk and often on dark days. On midwinter nights,
groups of cottontails have been seen frolicking on crusted snow.
Cottontails usually hop, but they can leap 10 to 15 feet (3–4.5 m);
sometimes they stand on their hindfeet to view their surroundings.
When pursued, they usually circle their territory and often jump
sideways to break their scent trail. They dislike getting wet but
will swim if pressed. In winter, where brush is strong enough to
hold a covering blanket of snow, they may make a network of runways
beneath it. In cold weather, they often take shelter in Woodchuck
burrows. This species feeds on many different plants, mainly
herbaceous varieties in summer and woody varieties in winter. As is
the case with many lagomorphs, in addition to producing typical
fecal pellets, the Eastern Cottontail will feed rapidly, then
retreat to the safety of a brush pile or other shelter and defecate
soft green pellets, to be eaten at leisure. During the breeding
season, males fight one another and perform dance-like courtship
displays before the territorial females. These displays involve
face-offs and much jumping, including females jumping over males.
Individuals often jump straight up into the air, and pairs or small
groups often engage in active chases. The young are born in a nest
lined with plant material and fur from the mother’s breast. The nest
cavity, in a hollow in the ground, is about 7 inches (180 mm) deep
and 5 inches (125 mm) wide. The top of the nest is capped over with
vegetation; nests in lawns are often exposed when lawn mowers take
the tops off. The young are nursed at dawn and dusk. Within hours
after giving birth the female mates again. If no young were lost, a
single pair, together with their offspring, could produce 350,000
rabbits in five years. However, this rabbit’s death rate vies with
its birth rate; few individuals live longer than one
year.
