The Eastern Cottontail Rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit species with soft, dense fur.
It has a brownish-gray coat with a distinctive white underside and a fluffy white tail resembling a cotton ball.
Adults typically weigh between 1.5 to 3 pounds and have large eyes and ears adapted for detecting predators.
Eastern Cottontails have powerful hind legs, allowing them to run and leap quickly to escape danger.
Known Range:
Native to North America, the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit can be found throughout much of the eastern and central United States, as well as parts of Mexico and southern Canada.
It inhabits a variety of habitats, including woodlands, fields, meadows, and suburban areas.
Diet:
Eastern Cottontail Rabbits are herbivores with a primarily plant-based diet.
They feed on a variety of vegetation, including grasses, clover, weeds, and agricultural crops such as lettuce, carrots, and soybeans.
In winter, when fresh greens are scarce, they may also consume bark, twigs, and buds.
Breeding and Lifecycle:
Eastern Cottontail Rabbits are prolific breeders, with multiple litters produced each year.
Breeding season typically occurs from late winter to early autumn, with peak activity in spring and summer.
Females construct shallow nests lined with grass and fur in concealed locations such as dense vegetation or burrows.
Gestation lasts approximately 28 days, after which females give birth to a litter of 3-7 kits.
The kits are born blind and hairless but develop rapidly, opening their eyes within a week and becoming independent at around 3-4 weeks of age.
Eastern Cottontails reach sexual maturity at 2-3 months old and have a lifespan of 1-3 years in the wild.
Note: The Eastern Cottontail Rabbit is a common and widespread species valued for its role in ecosystems as a prey species and seed disperser. Despite facing threats from habitat loss and predation, it remains abundant in many areas and is a familiar sight to residents and visitors alike.
