Now let’s meet the rabbits of North Carolina! Hares are generally larger than rabbits, with longer ears, and have black markings on their fur. So, how do we actually tell the difference between the two groups? The only rabbit to build its nest above ground is the cottontail rabbit. Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus.Hares are classified in the same family as rabbits.They are similar in size and form to rabbits and have similar herbivorous diets, but generally have longer ears and live solitarily or in pairs. Rabbit Advocacy often receives calls from people concerned about rabbits they see in the park, by the road, on hospital grounds, or in industrial areas. Cottontails are more tolerant of humans and other rabbits than hares, making them more likely to co-exist with us in our yards. COTTONTAIL RABBITS, Sylvilagus spp., (about eight species in the U.S., 16 in the Americas) are the rabbits most of us see in our yards, with each species inhabiting a particular region. Damages. This group of mammals is spread nearly worldwide and in Oregon, they are found throughout the state. Minnesota is home to two varieties of the small mammal we simply refer to as rabbits. Wild rabbits in Colorado include the mountain cottontail, eastern cottontail, desert cottontail, white-tailed jackrabbit, black-tailed jackrabbit and snowshoe hare. A HARE IN THE HOUSE – the successful hand-rearing of a Brown Hare . Both rabbits and hares can be very prolific. Finally, many species of cottontails have a white tail, which they flick up when they are alert or fleeing from a predator. Separating the two can be done by looking at the differences in size, life history, and preferred habitat. Maine is home to two rabbit-like species, but only one of them -- the New England cottontail (Fig. They are found throughout the Americas. It was the 2 nd of September, and as I was checking the calls left on the answer machine, I came across a message that sounded urgent. Its short white tail resembles a cottonball—hence its common name. Rabbits and Hares; Cottontail; Community Animals Animal Classes Mammals Rabbits and Hares Cottontail. This generally provides the rabbits with more protection than their cousin hares. They are highly adaptable. Snowshoe hares and the various species of cottontail rabbits look similar from a distance, especially during the summer when the hares don’t have their distinctive white coats. Hares A snowshoe hare in spring, transitioning from its white winter coat. Their ears are shorter and the hind feet are noticeably smaller. Description: A familiar rabbit that lived in eastern North America, the cottontail rabbit had long ears, large hind legs and feet, short bobbed and fluffy tail, which they have characteristics of rabbits and jackrabbits(or hares). Colorado has three species of cottontails. English (wikipedia hare) Etymology 1 From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) ). Generally they are … Although both are lagomorphs, hares typically have longer ears than rabbits, and much larger feet. Rabbits are in the order Lagomorpha, which also includes hares and pikas. Of these the Eastern Cottontail, native to North America, has been studied most. Oregon is home to the American pika and seven species of rabbits and hares. Their ears also have a black tip. They feed primarily on grasses and forbs. Cottontail rabbits. There are distinct differences between pikas, cottontails and hares. Exploring habitat for ruffed grouse and woodcock as it relates to cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hare. These rabbits are widespread across the Americas, and many species are incredibly common. These brown rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk, and spend the heat of the day in their burrow. Your best bet to see either in the wild would be to go out at sunrise or sunset, maybe in an area where a logging road or woods trail travels the edge of an opening in the forest, near a swamp, or on the edge of a timber sale that has some tree regeneration. Eastern Cottontail. Hares have 48 chromosomes and rabbits only 44. Cottontail Rabbit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The pygmy rabbit is the smallest in Utah and can be distinguished from all other rabbits by it's small size. They make up the genus Sylvilagus and total 20 different species of rabbits. CottonTails Rabbit & Guinea Pig Rescue > More > A HARE IN THE HOUSE – the successful hand-rearing of a Brown Hare. Cottontail rabbits and hares have received the most attention. Like hares, these rabbits will live and forage above ground and do not gain the protection that underground burrows provide. Hares have much larger ears and hind legs than rabbits. Preyed upon by everything from snakes to coyotes to owls, most cottontails are killed within their first year. Cottontail rabbits are smaller in size than jackrabbits and hares. These rabbits have few defenses other than good eyesight, good hearing, and the ability to flee quickly. Rabbits, Cottontails, and Hares . Some people mistakenly think rabbits are rodents. Babies. Its ears are smaller than those of jackrabbits, and its hind feet are much larger than its forefeet. A great number of people I thought would have known have claimed to me that a cottontail is not a rabbit but a Hare. All rabbits (except the cottontail rabbits) live underground in burrows or warrens, while hares (and cottontail rabbits) live in simple nests above the ground, and usually do not live in groups. In appearance, most cottontail rabbits closely resemble the wild European rabbit. The word “snowshoe” in its name refers to the conspicuously large hind foot, which spreads wide at the toes. Cottontail rabbits are called that because the underside of their tails -- which curls up against the lower back -- is white, just like a small piece of cotton. Interesting Facts About the Cottontail. A group of rabbits that inhabit areas around the the world are cottontail rabbits. Was it once classified as a Hare?Carlw4514 19:22, 21 September 2009 (UTC) I figured after three years, Carl deserved an answer..lol. Cottontails vary from 14 to 18 inches in length and weigh from two to three pounds. In Duluth we are in the midst of the overlapping ranges of those two animals. Of all the desert-dwelling mammals, the desert cottontail is probably the one you will see most frequently. Snowshoe hares are far larger than cottontails, growing up to twenty inches long and weighing 3-4 pounds. This: Differences in Physical features A rabbit (Eastern Cottontail or Sylvilagus floridanus). It all started with a phone call, as these things often do. In Latin America the peak diversity is achieved in Mexico, with its 4 species of hares (Lepus alleni, L. californicus, L. callotis and L. flavigularis). Hares have not been domesticated, while rabbits are kept as house pets. Rabbits and Hares. See Kansas Statute - KSA 32-1002 for further information. If you see a rabbit in North Carolina, it is HIGHLY likely it is an Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridannus). The other is the snowshoe hare. MrOwl Community Cottontail is a general term for the 17 rabbit species within genus Sylvilagus. The main differences are the small size and white, buffy tail. 1) -- is a true rabbit. Cottontail rabbits inhabit much of the Western Hemisphere from southern Canada to South America. Snowshoe hares are larger than New England cottontails, having a larger body, longer ears, and much longer feet. In general, rabbits are smaller and have shorter ears than hares. Although rabbits and hares are all from the Leporidae family, they are classified under 9 different genera (8 rabbit genera and 1 hare genus) and 53 species (21 distinct rabbit species, 32 for hares) — and they start life in markedly unique ways. This group of small mammals includes cottontails, jackrabbits, hares, and rabbits. All photos are from the eMammal. Cottontail not a Hare? Types of Pikas, Rabbits, and Hares. But they are separate species with varying physical and personality-based traits. As a noun cottontail is a rabbit of any of various species in genus. The animal gets its name from the fluffy snow-white underside of its tail. Cottontails have smaller ears than hares and jackrabbits. Noun Any of several plant-eating animals of the family Leporidae, especially of the genus Lepus , similar to a rabbit, but larger and with longer ears. However, cottontails are rabbits and, despite their names, black-tailed and white-tailed jackrabbits are hares (as is the snowshoe hare) and that is a big difference. As a verb hare is . Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) Desert Cottontails are able to tolerate diverse habitat from hot desert to woodland at 2000m. Hares are more nervous than rabbits, and live above … It is not a "true" cottontail. Even on a genetic level hares and rabbits are distinct. There’s a lot of information online about the different habitat types that wild game species like ruffed grouse and cottontail rabbits use, which is definitely important to know for hunting or wildlife watching opportunities. The cottontails' arms are shorter than their legs, and the soles of their feet are covered in fur. Its fur appears gray or brownish-gray. In terms of differences between the two, hares are physically larger than rabbits, with longer hind legs, larger feet, and longer ears with black markings, and rather than burrowing into the ground like rabbits, hares build simple nests in the grass. You can find Eastern cottontails all over the state. There are several species of cottontail rabbit, but the eastern cottontail is the most common. Basic Rabbit Information - Pikas, Cottontails, Hares, Jackrabbits Rabbits, also known as “bunnies,” are found all around the world. Although these species are related, they do show some distinctive differences. American pika Ochotona princeps. Supposedly it has been referred to as the varying hare for its color variations, from a brownish color in the summer to a bright white in the winter. Rabbits are active year-round, and can be active day or night during summer or the warmer periods of the day during the winter. Some hares are called jackrabbits, but they’re not really rabbits. Cottontail. Cottontail rabbits, however, are an exception to this rule. hare . Jackrabbits, for instance, are actually hares, whereas the rockhares and the hispid hare are rabbits. Also unlike rabbits, their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth rather than emerging blind and helpless. There are many species of rabbits along with cottontails, pikas and hares that make up the Lagomorpha order. The 30 or so species of hares fit into just one genus (Lepus), whereas rabbits branch out into 10 genuses, including the North American genus Sylvilagus, more commonly known as cottontails. These two terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same animal. There are several differences in the physical features of hares and rabbits that allow us to distinguish between the two. Hares vs. rabbits is a game that most children play while enjoying the great outdoors. These rabbits have moderately long ears, though not as long as those of jackrabbits or hares, and large round eyes. These rabbits are small, usually weighing only around 2-4 pounds. It's very common for people to bring their domestic rabbit to an existing colony or anywhere else that's easy and convenient. Hares and rabbits (the Order Lagomorpha, family Leporidae) are game animals the world around. Cottontail rabbits are smaller than jackrabbits or hares in overall size. This is true regardless of the color of the rabbit, which can vary from gray to reddish brown, according to National Geographic. These rabbits are most likely offspring of somebody’s dumped "pet." The Eastern cottontail, the most widespread species, averages 12 inches in length and weighs 2 to 4 pounds. Cottontail rabbits are classified as small game in Kansas, but currently they may be taken throughout the year with proper permits and within bag limits. How Rabbits and Hares Are Different. 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