Desert Cottontail ( Sylvilagus audubonii )
"Audubon's Cottontail"

These wonderful little creatures live throughout most of our western states.
Weighing around two pounds they are quite prolific with two to five litters a
year when up to eight young are born at a time. Many people consider
rabbits just rabbits, but there is a difference.

The jack rabbit is incorrectly named for they are not rabbits but hares. Remember a hare has long legs and leaps, while a rabbit has short legs and runs. Young of the rabbit are borne with no fur and their eyes closed, while the young of the hare is fully furred and can fend for itself in just a few hours. Sadly the cottontail is at the bottom of the food chain and anything from hawks, snakes, coyote, badger and on up prey on them. They were food for the settlers, a trophy for any person with a rifle or a pet for a lonely child. Cottontail rabbits cover all of our country in one form or another and they are wonderful little adventurers to watch while sitting quietly in camp and observing their antics.

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Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)

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