CALIFORNIA COTTONTAIL RABBITS

PHOTOS

There are several species of cottontail rabbit and they range in color from reddish brown to gray, but, all feature the distinctive "cotton ball" tail for which they are named. They seek out habitat on the fringes of open spaces, such as fields, meadows, and farms, but can adapt to other habitats—including those made by humans.

They browse and forage at night on grasses and herbs and are very fond of garden vegetables such as peas and lettuce. In the winter, their diet consists of bark, twigs, and buds. During the day, cottontails remain hidden in vegetation. If they spot a predator, they flee with a zigzag pattern and can reach speeds of up to 18 miles an hour.

Cottontails breed three or four times every year and produce three to eight young each time. Females give birth in shallow ground nests. Young rabbits mature quickly and are self-sufficient in four or five weeks. They are sexually mature after two or three months, so populations are able to grow with staggering speed.