Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
Sylvilagus floridanus
Family Leporidae

Characteristics:
* Fur brownish or grayish.
* Tail round and cottony white, 2 1/2-3".
* Eyes deep brown, appearing red in reflected light.
* Feet whitish.
* Head and body length: 14-17".

Natural History:
* Habitat: Thick brush, forest edges near open areas, weed patches, glades.
* Range: Eastern and central United States.
* Behavior: Cottontail rabbits are most active from early evening to late morning, spending the day concealed in holes or under brush piles. In summer, they eat green vegetation, and their winter food consists of bark and twigs. Cottontails molt twice a year, in spring and fall, and they mate in February and April. Unlike hares, their young are born blind.
* Lifespan: Less than 2 years in the wild; up to 10 years in captivity.
* Introduced to New England before 1900 from Kansas, Minnesota, and West Virginia.

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Approved by NR