Identification
- The desert cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit found in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
- They are small hares, measuring around 14-16 inches in length and weighing about 2-3 pounds. They are much smaller than Jackrabbits.
- They have grayish-brown fur on their back and sides, with a white belly and a distinctive fluffy white tail.
Habitat
- Desert cottontails can be found in a variety of habitats, including deserts, grasslands, and scrublands.
- They are most common in arid and semi-arid regions, and can be found from sea level up to around 7,000 feet in elevation.
Nesting
- Desert cottontails do not build permanent homes, but may use burrows created by other animals, such as rodents or tortoises.
- They may also create shallow scrapes or depressions in the ground to rest in.
Behavior
- Desert cottontails are most active during dawn and dusk, but may also be active during the night or on cloudy days.
- They are primarily herbivorous, and feed on a variety of plants, including grasses, cacti, and other desert vegetation.
- They are solitary animals, but may gather in small groups to feed or rest.
- When threatened, desert cottontails may freeze in place to avoid detection, or flee at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.
Offspring
- Desert cottontails breed throughout the year, but most commonly from February to September.
- Females can have up to 5 litters per year, each with 2-6 offspring. Most offspring don’t make it to adulthood.
- Young desert cottontails are born with their eyes closed and without fur, and are completely dependent on their mother for the first few weeks of life. They are full grown at about three months.
Predators
Desert cottontails are preyed upon by a variety of predators, including coyotes, bobcats, owls, and snakes.
They have been known to swim or climb trees to try to get away from predators.
Diet
- Desert cottontails are herbivores, and feed on a variety of plants, including grasses, cacti, and other desert vegetation.
- They have a specialized digestive system that allows them to extract nutrients from tough, fibrous plant material.
- They rarely need to drink because they get water mostly from the plants they eat.
Fun Facts
- Desert cottontails are important prey species for many predators in their ecosystem, and play a key role in the food chain.
- They have a unique adaptation in their kidneys that allows them to conserve water, which is essential for survival in their arid habitat.
- Despite their name, desert cottontails are not true rabbits, but are actually a type of hare.
- When it takes a hop, the tracks look like the number “7” with the hind feet planted first and the the front feet set behind.
- Life span is less than two years. They are an important food source for many animals that are bigger and faster.
- They use their ears to help regulate their temperatures and cool off.
- The cottontail’s tail functions as an alarm signal. When a rabbit raises its tail, the large white patch of fur on the bottom is exposed, serving as a warning signal to other cottontails.