Hopefully, the above information has shed more … Eastern cottontails usually breed from February until September. Its rump and flanks are gray, and it has a prominent rufous … Cottontail rabbits must be distinguished from jackrabbits and other hares, which are generally larger in size and have longer ears. - NatureWorks This rabbit is reliably distinguished from the eastern cottontail only by skull characteristics. From the Eastern cottontail rabbit adaptations in living style and behavior, one must realize that no matter how small the species, survival is always due to the fittest. The dorsal coloration varies from reddish-brown to grayish-brown sprinkled with black. The exact time of breeding depends on the temperature, food, and light. Eastern cottontails cause a great deal of damage in their search for food. The Cottontail Rabbit is a very common rabbit species in North America and to a lesser extent, in South America. Eastern cottontail rabbit. A dense, buffy brown underfur and longer, coarser gray- and black-tipped guard hairs cover the back of the eastern cottontail. Adult eastern cottontails reach a length of 395 to 477 mm. Figure 1. Description. There is a rusty patch on the tail. These rabbits are able to begin breeding at 2 to 3 months old. This is unlikely to ever occur as rabbits also have a high mortality rate --few live more than a year. Also, it often has a white spot on the forehead. The cottontail bunny eats plants, is most active at dusk and dawn, and provides a major link in food webs. Eastern Cottontails 1 Baby Eastern Cottontail Rabbits Welcome to the world! The eastern cottontail rabbit is a midsize rabbit that generally resides throughout eastern North America, from Canada to Mexico. Physical Description. The Appalachian cottontail is very similar in appearance to the eastern cottontail. The neck is rust-colored. This perhaps explains why there are domesticated rabbits but no domesticated hares. ... An Eastern cottontail rabbit hops along the bunny trail. They are pests to gardeners and farmers in the summer. Mother rabbits can have three to eight kits in a litter, and have three to four litters a year. For the purposes of the discussion here about damage control and biology, the eastern cottontail will be considered representative of the genus. Cottontail rabbits are also prolific. Common name: Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Information for this Species Page was derived in part from research gathered by Edward Lee for Biology 220W in Spring 2000 at Penn State New Kensington) The eastern cottontail rabbit is one of the most common mammals of both the natural and the human generated ecosystems of North America. with a total length of 407-423 mm (16-17 in.). Physical Characteristics The eastern cottontail, which is the most common of the cottontail rabbits, has grayish brown fur above that is often grizzled with black hairs. The adult eastern cottontail is a mid-sized rabbit weighing approximately 900-1,800 g (2-4 lbs.) In Wisconsin, kits may be born anytime from the beginning of March through October. The eastern cottontail has speckled brown-gray fur above, reddish-brown fur around its neck and shoulders and lighter fur around its nose and on its undersides. Females can have anywhere from 1 to 7 litters per year but usually have 3 to 4. From the Eastern cottontail rabbit adaptations in living style and behavior, one must realize that no matter how small the species, survival is always due to the fittest. The swamp rabbit and the marsh rabbit (S. palustris) are strong swimmers. In addition, humans may contract the bacterial disease tularemia from handling the dead body of an infected cottontail. In fact, it can be very difficult to distinguish between the two species. Learn about the veterinary topic of Description and Physical Characteristics of Rabbits.