Cottontail Rabbit




The Cottontail Rabbit

By

Julia





Species Name - common and scientific
The Eastern Cottontail rabbit is a lagomorph which consists of  the Leporidae (hares and rabbits) and the Ochotonidae (pikas) Sylvilagus Floridanus


 Habitat: Where is it found in VT?  

In the summer months dense vegetation coverage is adequate.
Valley farmland regions, places where pastures and fields are interspersed with hedgerows and low dense brush for shelter/escape. During the snowy months the population has weakened distribution and density.  Since they are grey and brown they have poor camouflage in the snow and increases the need for shelter.  
Rabbit cover:
~feeding cover
~resting/escape cover
Ten acres is the home range for the Cottontail, however higher quality habitats can be smaller.  Cottontail rabbits tend to stay in the same home area throughout their lives.



 Behavior
They are active during the day and night year round and rest on “form”, or  small scratched out depressions from clumps of grass or under brush piles.  Cottontail Rabbits are hoppers below is an example of the average footprint and hopping pattern of the Snowshoe Hare and the cottontail Rabbit.:
photo.JPG
photo.JPG

Interactions with other species (predator, prey, etc.)
Here is a list of predators: domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), foxes (Vulpes and Urocyon spp.), coyote (C. latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), domestic cat (Felis cattus), weasels (Mustela spp.), raccoon (Procyon lotor), mink (M. vison), great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), barred owl (Strix varia), hawks (principally Buteo spp.) , and snakes.


Food (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore)
They depend on low growing woody vegetation for shelter and food during the winter months this includes escape shelter and thermal cover as well.Clovers, grass, dandelions, and plantain, are all common foods for this species.  Garden crops are also popular with this fluffy friend which can be unfriendly to our greens beans, peas, lettuce, and cabbage.  However during the winter they eat more woody plants like stems/buds of things like blackberry,raspberry,sumac,apple,and wild black cherry.



Authors Note ~ Hello, I have researched the Cottontail Rabbit.  We have not found it in our woods but it is a common species in Vermont.  Due to the cold weather we have no seen any, but look out in the spring and you'll be sure to see some. ~Julia
Sources:


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