Observations by cameronset

Scientific and Common Names – Habitat and Geographic Range

Sylvilagus floridanus or more frequently known by its common name the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, is one of 13 subspecies of Sylvilagus which resides in North America (Chapman). This rabbit is identified by it's predominately gray or brownish-gray fur coat that is blended with a mixture of white, gray, brown, and black fur as secondary colours (Chapman). A key feature used to identify this sub species is that they have large pointed ears and according to its namesake, has a large white tail that resembles a cotton ball(Chapman). This particular sub species resides across a large geographical range spanning from southern Ontario, Canada all the way down and across most of Mexico, and lives across almost all regions of Eastern and Central North America, from New England down to Florida, and more recently has been reaching westwards towards the Rocky Mountains (Chapman). Despite being spotted and adaptive to living across such a wide stretch of various environments, the Eastern Cottontail does distribute itself in equal proportions across this landscape, since they tend to avoid open fields and grasslands along with densely congested forests, where they prefer somewhere in between (Chapman). Their optimal home instead is comprised of harvested crop fields and areas covered with low lying brush for them to hide among and quickly move from cover to cover in order to avoid predation (Lochmiller). Populations of Eastern Cottontail Rabbits typically will spend their entire lives from birth and over successive generations within a stretch of land often no larger than a square kilometer and only move away from this area when food becomes scarce between the summer and winter seasons or their habitat is no longer suitable such as the case when human development comes along and repurposes it (Lochmiller).

Size, Weight and Lifespan - Diet

Most of the sub species of Sylvilagus have relatively similar phenotypic characteristics , though it is their size and habitat preference that distinguishes them apart (Chapman). In the case of the Eastern Cottontail, it can be considered a "mid-range" sized rabbit as it's average size is about as much bigger from the smallest sub species (Pygmy, S. Idahoensis at 0.5kg) to as it is smaller than the biggest (Swamp, S. aquaticus at 3kg) (Chapman). This rabbit in the wild is on average 1-2 kg (2-4lbs) and between 37 and 48 cm I length when fully grown (Chapman). Unlike many mammal species, the Eastern Cottontail does not seem to have a significant size difference between males and females, where each sex will grow to be within the same average length and weight (Chapman). The average lifespan of this rabbit in the wild is typically a little over a full year, where very few individuals will survive to see their second 'birthday' (Chapman). Most sub species of Sylvilagus share relatively similar types of diets, although variation exists across the regions they reside in primarily due to what food sources are in abundance (Lochmiller). For the Eastern Cottontail, it thrives in environments around agriculture and residential homes where plants and ground-growing crops are plentiful while providing sufficient brush cover for hiding (Lochmiller). As such, their favourite sources of food come from flowers (especially tulips), ground vegetables like peas, beans and carrots (Chapman). Though once these food sources decline during the fall and winter seasons these rabbits will begin eating at the bark of trees, branches and pretty much most plants it can reach during the snow fall (Craven).

Reproduction and Communication

Despite their short lifespan the Cottontails do their part of repopulating as those in the north will have fewer liters (2-3) but 5 or 6 offspring each time in a year, while the southern population will breed year round having more liters (5-6) but birthing only 2 or 3 offspring at a time (Chapman). For all populations of Eastern Cottontails, the reproductive gestation period for females lasts approximately a month (~28 days), and once the liter has been birthed the female will attempt to breed once again only several hours later (Chapman). In terms of how this rabbit species communicates among themselves is that predominately they use gestures, movements and body posture which forms a complex form of language while they also use a limited number of vocalizations to compliment these movements (Chapman).

Predation

Since Eastern Cottontail rabbits reproduce so plentifully and efficiently across such a large stretch of eastern and central North America, they have become the 'go-to' meal for many predator animals across the continent (Swihart). Some of their major predators include owls and hawks whom predate on rabbits that stray into open areas, foxes, racoons and snakes which actively hunt for rabbits and their young offspring as their primary source of food, along with domesticated pets like cats and dogs that are able to get a hold of rabbits that stray into residential areas (Swihart).

Conservation Status

Eastern Cottontail rabbits are considered a 'least concerned' species in the context that all current conservation methods being applied to protect the population is serving its purpose and that the species is thriving in plentiful numbers with no foreseeable circumstances that would lead to additional conservational actions being taken to protect the population (Craven). Across most US states, the Eastern Cottontail is listed as a 'game animal' that allows commercial hunting of the species during designated hunting seasons, although this legislature is subjective to the state and country in question, albeit the majority of the rabbit's territories is protected by some means (Craven).

Did you know...

That Eastern Cottontail rabbits are the only species of rabbit that do not dig and live in underground burrows? Despite being classified as a rabbit, Eastern Cottontails hide in brush, bushes and dig shallow holes to hide in (Chapman).

Citations [MLA]:
Chapman, Joseph A., J. Gregory Hockman, and Magaly M. Ojeda C. "Sylvilagus Floridanus." Mammalian Species 136 (1980): 1. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.

Craven, Spencer R. "The Handbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage." DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. N.p., Jan. 1994. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.

Lochmiller, R. L., D. G. Pietz, S. T. Mcmurry, D. M. Leslie, and D. M. Engle. "Alterations in Condition of Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus Floridanus) on Rangelands following Brush Management." Journal of Range Management 48.3 (1995): 232. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.

Swihart, Robert K., and Richard H. Yahner. "Winter Use of Insular Habitat Patches by the Eastern Cottontail." Eastern Cottontail Use of Fragmented Farmland Habitat 29 (1984): 45-56. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.

Scientific and Common Names – Habitat and Geographic Range

Sylvilagus floridanus or more frequently known by its common name the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, is one of 13 subspecies of Sylvilagus which resides in North America (Chapman). This rabbit is identified by it's predominately gray or brownish-gray fur coat that is blended with a mixture of white, gray, brown, and black fur as secondary colours (Chapman). A key feature used to identify this sub species is that they have large pointed ears and according to its namesake, has a large white tail that resembles a cotton ball(Chapman). This particular sub species resides across a large geographical range spanning from southern Ontario, Canada all the way down and across most of Mexico, and lives across almost all regions of Eastern and Central North America, from New England down to Florida, and more recently has been reaching westwards towards the Rocky Mountains (Chapman). Despite being spotted and adaptive to living across such a wide stretch of various environments, the Eastern Cottontail does distribute itself in equal proportions across this landscape, since they tend to avoid open fields and grasslands along with densely congested forests, where they prefer somewhere in between (Chapman). Their optimal home instead is comprised of harvested crop fields and areas covered with low lying brush for them to hide among and quickly move from cover to cover in order to avoid predation (Lochmiller). Populations of Eastern Cottontail Rabbits typically will spend their entire lives from birth and over successive generations within a stretch of land often no larger than a square kilometer and only move away from this area when food becomes scarce between the summer and winter seasons or their habitat is no longer suitable such as the case when human development comes along and repurposes it (Lochmiller).

Size, Weight and Lifespan - Diet

Most of the sub species of Sylvilagus have relatively similar phenotypic characteristics , though it is their size and habitat preference that distinguishes them apart (Chapman). In the case of the Eastern Cottontail, it can be considered a "mid-range" sized rabbit as it's average size is about as much bigger from the smallest sub species (Pygmy, S. Idahoensis at 0.5kg) to as it is smaller than the biggest (Swamp, S. aquaticus at 3kg) (Chapman). This rabbit in the wild is on average 1-2 kg (2-4lbs) and between 37 and 48 cm I length when fully grown (Chapman). Unlike many mammal species, the Eastern Cottontail does not seem to have a significant size difference between males and females, where each sex will grow to be within the same average length and weight (Chapman). The average lifespan of this rabbit in the wild is typically a little over a full year, where very few individuals will survive to see their second 'birthday' (Chapman). Most sub species of Sylvilagus share relatively similar types of diets, although variation exists across the regions they reside in primarily due to what food sources are in abundance (Lochmiller). For the Eastern Cottontail, it thrives in environments around agriculture and residential homes where plants and ground-growing crops are plentiful while providing sufficient brush cover for hiding (Lochmiller). As such, their favourite sources of food come from flowers (especially tulips), ground vegetables like peas, beans and carrots (Chapman). Though once these food sources decline during the fall and winter seasons these rabbits will begin eating at the bark of trees, branches and pretty much most plants it can reach during the snow fall (Craven).

Reproduction and Communication

Despite their short lifespan the Cottontails do their part of repopulating as those in the north will have fewer liters (2-3) but 5 or 6 offspring each time in a year, while the southern population will breed year round having more liters (5-6) but birthing only 2 or 3 offspring at a time (Chapman). For all populations of Eastern Cottontails, the reproductive gestation period for females lasts approximately a month (~28 days), and once the liter has been birthed the female will attempt to breed once again only several hours later (Chapman). In terms of how this rabbit species communicates among themselves is that predominately they use gestures, movements and body posture which forms a complex form of language while they also use a limited number of vocalizations to compliment these movements (Chapman).

Predation

Since Eastern Cottontail rabbits reproduce so plentifully and efficiently across such a large stretch of eastern and central North America, they have become the 'go-to' meal for many predator animals across the continent (Swihart). Some of their major predators include owls and hawks whom predate on rabbits that stray into open areas, foxes, racoons and snakes which actively hunt for rabbits and their young offspring as their primary source of food, along with domesticated pets like cats and dogs that are able to get a hold of rabbits that stray into residential areas (Swihart).

Conservation Status

Eastern Cottontail rabbits are considered a 'least concerned' species in the context that all current conservation methods being applied to protect the population is serving its purpose and that the species is thriving in plentiful numbers with no foreseeable circumstances that would lead to additional conservational actions being taken to protect the population (Craven). Across most US states, the Eastern Cottontail is listed as a 'game animal' that allows commercial hunting of the species during designated hunting seasons, although this legislature is subjective to the state and country in question, albeit the majority of the rabbit's territories is protected by some means (Craven).

Did you know...

That Eastern Cottontail rabbits are the only species of rabbit that do not dig and live in underground burrows? Despite being classified as a rabbit, Eastern Cottontails hide in brush, bushes and dig shallow holes to hide in (Chapman).

Citations [MLA]:
Chapman, Joseph A., J. Gregory Hockman, and Magaly M. Ojeda C. "Sylvilagus Floridanus." Mammalian Species 136 (1980): 1. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.

Craven, Spencer R. "The Handbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage." DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. N.p., Jan. 1994. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.

Lochmiller, R. L., D. G. Pietz, S. T. Mcmurry, D. M. Leslie, and D. M. Engle. "Alterations in Condition of Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus Floridanus) on Rangelands following Brush Management." Journal of Range Management 48.3 (1995): 232. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.

Swihart, Robert K., and Richard H. Yahner. "Winter Use of Insular Habitat Patches by the Eastern Cottontail." Eastern Cottontail Use of Fragmented Farmland Habitat 29 (1984): 45-56. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.

Scientific and Common Names – Habitat and Geographic Range

Sylvilagus floridanus or more frequently known by its common name the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, is one of 13 subspecies of Sylvilagus which resides in North America (Chapman). This rabbit is identified by it's predominately gray or brownish-gray fur coat that is blended with a mixture of white, gray, brown, and black fur as secondary colours (Chapman). A key feature used to identify this sub species is that they have large pointed ears and according to its namesake, has a large white tail that resembles a cotton ball(Chapman). This particular sub species resides across a large geographical range spanning from southern Ontario, Canada all the way down and across most of Mexico, and lives across almost all regions of Eastern and Central North America, from New England down to Florida, and more recently has been reaching westwards towards the Rocky Mountains (Chapman). Despite being spotted and adaptive to living across such a wide stretch of various environments, the Eastern Cottontail does distribute itself in equal proportions across this landscape, since they tend to avoid open fields and grasslands along with densely congested forests, where they prefer somewhere in between (Chapman). Their optimal home instead is comprised of harvested crop fields and areas covered with low lying brush for them to hide among and quickly move from cover to cover in order to avoid predation (Lochmiller). Populations of Eastern Cottontail Rabbits typically will spend their entire lives from birth and over successive generations within a stretch of land often no larger than a square kilometer and only move away from this area when food becomes scarce between the summer and winter seasons or their habitat is no longer suitable such as the case when human development comes along and repurposes it (Lochmiller).

Size, Weight and Lifespan - Diet

Most of the sub species of Sylvilagus have relatively similar phenotypic characteristics , though it is their size and habitat preference that distinguishes them apart (Chapman). In the case of the Eastern Cottontail, it can be considered a "mid-range" sized rabbit as it's average size is about as much bigger from the smallest sub species (Pygmy, S. Idahoensis at 0.5kg) to as it is smaller than the biggest (Swamp, S. aquaticus at 3kg) (Chapman). This rabbit in the wild is on average 1-2 kg (2-4lbs) and between 37 and 48 cm I length when fully grown (Chapman). Unlike many mammal species, the Eastern Cottontail does not seem to have a significant size difference between males and females, where each sex will grow to be within the same average length and weight (Chapman). The average lifespan of this rabbit in the wild is typically a little over a full year, where very few individuals will survive to see their second 'birthday' (Chapman). Most sub species of Sylvilagus share relatively similar types of diets, although variation exists across the regions they reside in primarily due to what food sources are in abundance (Lochmiller). For the Eastern Cottontail, it thrives in environments around agriculture and residential homes where plants and ground-growing crops are plentiful while providing sufficient brush cover for hiding (Lochmiller). As such, their favourite sources of food come from flowers (especially tulips), ground vegetables like peas, beans and carrots (Chapman). Though once these food sources decline during the fall and winter seasons these rabbits will begin eating at the bark of trees, branches and pretty much most plants it can reach during the snow fall (Craven).

Reproduction and Communication

Despite their short lifespan the Cottontails do their part of repopulating as those in the north will have fewer liters (2-3) but 5 or 6 offspring each time in a year, while the southern population will breed year round having more liters (5-6) but birthing only 2 or 3 offspring at a time (Chapman). For all populations of Eastern Cottontails, the reproductive gestation period for females lasts approximately a month (~28 days), and once the liter has been birthed the female will attempt to breed once again only several hours later (Chapman). In terms of how this rabbit species communicates among themselves is that predominately they use gestures, movements and body posture which forms a complex form of language while they also use a limited number of vocalizations to compliment these movements (Chapman).

Predation

Since Eastern Cottontail rabbits reproduce so plentifully and efficiently across such a large stretch of eastern and central North America, they have become the 'go-to' meal for many predator animals across the continent (Swihart). Some of their major predators include owls and hawks whom predate on rabbits that stray into open areas, foxes, racoons and snakes which actively hunt for rabbits and their young offspring as their primary source of food, along with domesticated pets like cats and dogs that are able to get a hold of rabbits that stray into residential areas (Swihart).

Conservation Status

Eastern Cottontail rabbits are considered a 'least concerned' species in the context that all current conservation methods being applied to protect the population is serving its purpose and that the species is thriving in plentiful numbers with no foreseeable circumstances that would lead to additional conservational actions being taken to protect the population (Craven). Across most US states, the Eastern Cottontail is listed as a 'game animal' that allows commercial hunting of the species during designated hunting seasons, although this legislature is subjective to the state and country in question, albeit the majority of the rabbit's territories is protected by some means (Craven).

Did you know...

That Eastern Cottontail rabbits are the only species of rabbit that do not dig and live in underground burrows? Despite being classified as a rabbit, Eastern Cottontails hide in brush, bushes and dig shallow holes to hide in (Chapman).

Citations [MLA]:
Chapman, Joseph A., J. Gregory Hockman, and Magaly M. Ojeda C. "Sylvilagus Floridanus." Mammalian Species 136 (1980): 1. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.

Craven, Spencer R. "The Handbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage." DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. N.p., Jan. 1994. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.

Lochmiller, R. L., D. G. Pietz, S. T. Mcmurry, D. M. Leslie, and D. M. Engle. "Alterations in Condition of Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus Floridanus) on Rangelands following Brush Management." Journal of Range Management 48.3 (1995): 232. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.

Swihart, Robert K., and Richard H. Yahner. "Winter Use of Insular Habitat Patches by the Eastern Cottontail." Eastern Cottontail Use of Fragmented Farmland Habitat 29 (1984): 45-56. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.