- A cottontail's habitat can be a meadow, farm, orchard, field or a rural neighborhood. The cottontail rabbit seeks shelter in hollow logs, brush and rock piles, tall grass and shrubs. During the cooler months, a cottontail may build its nest under unused backyard items like a small, plastic pool. The cottontail rabbit chooses its habitat location according to how accessible an escape route is in case a predator stumbles across their nest.
- Cottontail rabbits get their name from their soft, round tail that resembles a big cotton ball. The rabbits have large eyes that allow them to keep a close watch on anything that may try to harm them. The cottontail's ears are also large and stand tall. Their fur color ranges from a reddish brown to a gray, with a lighter underbelly. Female cottontails grow larger than the males. The rabbits get approximately 14-to-18 inches long and can weigh up to 4 lbs.
- Cottontails have big feet that allow them to outrun their predators; including owls, coyotes and foxes. The rabbits can run up to 18 mph for up to a half mile. The size of their feet also help them make long leaps of up to 15 feet in one bound. When running from animals that attack them, the cottontail will hop in a zigzag pattern, changing direction after two or three leaps.
- Cottontail rabbits are herbivores which means they feed on plants. Their summer diet commonly consists of fresh grass, herbs, dandelions, clovers, sprouts and vegetables they can snack on in gardens, like peas, beans and lettuce. During the winter season their diet changes due to the colder temperature, so they eat twigs and bark. Cottontails are able to tear the tree parts with their sharp incisors. Cottontails especially like apple, blackberry, birch, maple and willow trees.
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