"The Eastern Cottontail relies on a quick burst of speed and a zigzagged running pattern to escape their predators, but they cannot run fast for a long distance." " Rabbits can swim if they have to." ScientificName - Sylvilagus floridanus RANGE - North America, Central America & Southern Canada LIFESPAN - 2 to 3 years
DIET - Green grasses, clover, bark, buds, roots, twigs and carrots. LENGTH - 15 to 18 inches WEIGHT -2 to 4 pounds
HIBERNATION - Does Not Hibernate
STATUS - Doing Well
PROTECTION - Managed Hunted during season.
The Eastern Cottontail has redish-brown or grayish-brown fur, with large hind feet, long ears and a short fluffy white tail resembling a ball of cotton. Its belly fur is white and there is a rusty patch on the tail. It has large brown eyes and large ears, giving it sharp hearing and keen eyesight. The Eastern Cottontail mainly eats green vegetation like grasses and clover in the summer and bark, buds and twigs in the winter. This animal is basically nocturnal, feeding at night and twilight. They do not hibernate in the winter. The average adult weighs from 2-4 pounds, however the female is slightly heavier than the male. Predators of this rabbit include hawks, owls, bobcat, coyote and humans. People hunt it for food and fur in many areas of its range. The Eastern Cottontail can be considered a pest around farms and gardens. Mating occurs from February through September. The gestation period lasts about 28 days. The female builds a nest in the ground lined with grass and fur, where she gives birth to up to nine baby rabbits or "kits". Females can mate shortly after giving birth and will produce from 2 to 4 litters each year. The kitts are weaned in 3 weeks, leave the nest around seven weeks and are able to mate at 3 months. Hunting, by man and natural predators, prevent rabbit populations from growing out of control. The Eastern Cottontail is a very territorial animal, as you can see in the YouTube video below, as a rabbit takes on a snake. When running, rabbits can jump from 10-15 feet and can run up to 15mph!
