Table of Contents
What adaptations do eastern cottontail rabbits have?
This mammal sleeps during the warmest part of the day since it is most active during dusk, dawn and night. An adaptation of the desert cottontail which makes it easier for it to survive in its environment is its long, thin ears are suited to release extra body heat.
How do Eastern cottontail rabbits survive?
Eastern cottontails forage in open areas and use brush piles, stone walls with shrubs around them, herbaceous and shrubby plants, and burrows or dens for escape cover, shelter, and resting cover. Woody cover is extremely important for the survival and abundance of eastern cottontails.
What does a cottontail rabbit need to survive?
They prefer grasses, wheat, clover, timothy, sedges and plants cultivated by humans. In winter, cottontail rabbits may consume twigs, buds and sprouts. These rabbits consume fallen fruits such as apples, or fallen corn, in autumn.
Why do cottontail rabbits have a short survival time?
Sadly, wild rabbits do not have a high survival rate. Many cottontail rabbits (the most common type of wild rabbit in the U.S.) will live for less than a year in the wild, with winter temperatures and food shortages being a major cause of death.
What is the life expectancy of a cottontail rabbit?
Rabbits are short-lived; probably none die of old age. Research conducted on eastern cottontails suggests that only about 25 percent of individuals survive for two years, with the average lifespan about 15 months.
Where do cottontail rabbits sleep at night?
In the wild, bunnies sleep in burrows or deeply nested areas. Provide your pet with a safe, secure place to doze. Your best bet for bedding is either hay or straw, both of which he can eat. In fact, your rabbit needs a constant supply of hay to help keep his gut moving and his constantly growing teeth worn down.
What is the lifespan of a cottontail rabbit?
Can cottontail rabbits be pets?
Wild cottontails cannot be kept as pets or education animals because of this; they are far too easily stressed to live a comfortable life in captivity,” Dr. Wilkinson warns. On the other hand, domesticated rabbits are often used to people, so may approach you – even if found outside.
What is a cottontail rabbits favorite food?
grasses
In summer cottontails eat grasses, sedges, clovers, and the shoots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds of many different plants. Their favorites include goldenrod, plantain, chickweed, sheep sorrel, buttercup, smartweed, wild strawberry, cinquefoil, and violet.
What is the life span of a wild rabbit?
9 yearsIn the wild
European rabbit/Lifespan
How can you tell how old a cottontail rabbit is?
How to Determine the Age of a Baby Cottontail Rabbit
- View the baby cottontail rabbit and note its characteristics and behaviors.
- Weigh the rabbit.
- View the rabbit’s fur.
- Check the baby cottontail rabbit’s ears.
- View the rabbit’s eyes.
- Note the baby’s reaction to loud noises.
Where do wild rabbits sleep at night?