Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

Sylvilagus floridanus

Least Concern

Quick Facts

Kingdom: Animalia
Abundance: Abundant
Habitat: Forest, Grassland
Activity: Crepuscular (Active at dawn/dusk)
Lifespan: up to 3 years

A widespread, medium-sized rabbit with rusty-brown fur mottled with black, and white fur on its belly and the underside of the tail. The Eastern Cottontail feeds at dawn and dusk on grasses, twigs, and bark and tends to run in a zigzag pattern when startled. They build nests underground where they shelter their furless, helpless babies.

Diet

Vegetation such as bark, twigs, leaves, fruit, buds, flowers, grass seeds, sedge fruits, and rush seeds.

Activity Pattern

Crepuscular (Active at dawn/dusk)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Sylvilagus
Species: Sylvilagus floridanus

Scientific Name

Sylvilagus floridanus

Common Name

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
Breeding Season
February-September
Lifespan
up to 3 years

Behavior

Eastern cottontails are solitary animals, they tend to be intolerant of each other and are very territorial. Eastern cottontails are crepuscular to nocturnal feeders; although they usually spend most of the daylight hours resting in shallow depressions under vegetative cover or other shelter, they can be seen at any time of day. Eastern cottontails are most active when visibility is limited, such as rainy or foggy nights.

Activity Pattern

Crepuscular (Active at dawn/dusk)

Habitat Types

Forest
Grassland

Geographic Distribution

The eastern cottontail has the widest distribution of any Sylvilagus. It is found from southern Manitoba and Quebec to Central and northwestern South America. In the contiguous United States, the eastern cottontail ranges from the east to the Great Plains in the west.

Local Abundance

Abundant

Conservation Status

Least Concern

This species is widespread and abundant. No immediate threat to survival.

How You Can Help

  • Report sightings to contribute to population monitoring
  • Support habitat conservation efforts
  • Follow guidelines when observing wildlife
No field notes or observations available for this species.

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