Observations by fisicosm

The Sylvilagus floridanus, more commonly known as the eastern cottontail rabbit on account of its signature white tail, will be the following animal of interest.

Habitat and Geographic Range

The eastern cottontail is known to inhabit the outskirts of open areas including: grassy fields, meadows, and even human farmland (“Cottontail Rabbit”, 2016). It is also essential for them to remain in close proximity with dense shrubbery to escape into, in the event of being predated (“Eastern Cottontail Rabbit”, 2011). The home range of females is usually smaller than males, being approximately 5 to 15 acres and 100 acres respectively, and will change depending on food availability and the season (“Eastern Cottontail Rabbit”, 2011).

These rabbits can be found in Canada, the United States and northern regions of South America (Mikita, 1999). Specifically, southern Ontario and Manitoba in Canada, the east coast to the Great Plains in the west of the United States, and include parts of Venezuela and Columbia in South America (Mikita, 1999).

Size/Weight & Lifespan

This furry friend can range in length from 39.5 cm to 47.7 cm, and can weigh from 800 g to 1533 g (“Cottontail Rabbit”, 2016). In the wild it is rare for a cottontail rabbit to live beyond 3 years of age, but can live up to 9 years when in captivity, provided that the presence of predators can be manipulated and food availability can be monitored. (“Cottontail Rabbit”, 2016).

Diet

The diet of eastern cottontails can vary depending on the season and is very diverse considering their great geographical range (Feldhamer, 2003). In the summer and spring, herbaceous plants are consumed, whereas woody plant species are eaten in the winter (Feldhamer, 2003). In a 1950 study by R. H. Smith, herbaceous plants consumed by cottontails of New York included, timothy, quack grass, orchard grass, red clover and wild carrot, whereas woody plants consumed included, apple, staghorn sumac, red maple, blackberry and red raspberry (Feldhamer, 2003). In another study it was noted that Connecticut cottontails were eating clover, timothy and alfalfa in the warmer seasons and gray birch, red maple, aspen and choke berry to name a few, in the off season (Feldhamer, 2003). These studies demonstrate the varying cottontail diet depending on the season and show how geographic location of the rabbit can influence its dietary habits.

Reproduction & Communication

The rabbits are sexually mature by 2 to 3 months old and will move to higher elevation and latitude in preparation for reproductive activity (Feldhamer, 2003). The start and end time for the rabbit’s breeding season can be remarkably different within populations and is greatly dependent on the temperature and geographic location (Feldhamer, 2003). The average breeding season is from February until September, but can be yearly in some cases (Mikita, 1999). A female can have between 1 to 7 litters per year, provided that they have a 25-28 day gestational periods, and can have up to 12 babies per litter (Mikita, 1999)!

It has been discovered that S. floridanus will elicit a distress scream upon capture by a predator, but it is not yet evident if this is for the purpose of warning its fellow species, or rather an attempt to confuse the predator (Cowan, 1986). S. floridanus is one species of the Leporidae family that has a white underside of their tail that serves as a warning signal to others when being predated (Cowan, 1986). This visual cue is useful considering that this species roams in open space where the tail could be easily picked out in a grassy scene (Cowan, 1986). The male rabbits also spray urine in the presence of females, which is speculated to provide vital characteristics of reproductive status (Cowan, 1986).

Predation

This rabbit can try their best to hide in dense shrubbery, but they are still predated by the red fox, owls, coyotes, weasels, hawks, and even humans (Mikita, 1999). In a study of cottontail rabbit predation, radio-tagging was used to track their movement when released back into the wild and mortality could be assumed when the rabbits had been dormant for a long period of time (Mech, 1967). Records on red foxes and owls in the region were also accumulated and when the data were all analyzed, results lead to the deduction that these two animals were the main predators of the eastern cottontail rabbit (Mech, 1967).

Conservation Status

Since the cottontail rabbit is said to be increasing in population size, this animal is of least concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (ICUN) (“Sylvilagus floridanus”, 2016). The animal may not live for very long in the wild, but with its early sexual maturity, vast geographic range, and adaptability, the population can be sustained.

Did you know...

That the eastern cottontail rabbit has been identified as one of the amplifying hosts for West Nile Virus! This rabbit species, as well as some squirrel, chipmunk, lemur and alligator species, have been identified to produce significantly high levels of the virus within their blood (Pradier, 2012). At these blood levels, they are able to infect mosquitoes and are thus introducing themselves into the transmission cycle for West Nile Virus (Pradier, 2012).

References

Cottontail Rabbit Sylvilagus floridanus. (2016). National Geographic. Retrieved from:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/cottontail-
rabbit/
Cowan, D.P., & Bell, D.J. (1986). Leporid social behaviour and social organization.
Mammal Rev, 16, 169-179. Retrieved from:
http://journals2.scholarsportal.info.libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca/pdf/0305183
8/v16i3-4/169_lsbaso.xml
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit. (2011). Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Retrieved from:
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/wildlifemgmt/species/easternrabbit.h
tm
Feldhamer, G. A., Thompson, B. C., & Chapman, J. A. (2003). Eastern Cottontail
Syvilagus floridanus and Alies. In Chapman, J. A., & Litvaitis, J. A. (Eds.), Wild
Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation. (pp.
101-125). Baltimore, MD: JHU Press.
Mech, L. D. (1967). Telemetry as a Technique in the Study of Predation. The Journal
of Wildlife Management, 31, 492-496. Retrieved from:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3798129?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Mikita, K. (1999). BioKIDS- University of Michigan. Retrieved from:
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Sylvilagus_floridanus/
Pradier, S., Lecollinet, S., & Leblond, A. (2012). West Nile virus epidemiology and
factors triggering change in its distribution in Europe. Revue scientifique et
technique (International Office of Epizootics), 31, 829-844. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236072631_West_Nile_virus_epi
demiology_and_factors_triggering_change_in_its_distribution_in_Europe
Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cottontail). (2016). The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. Retrieved from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/search