How Not to Catch a Rabbit- Follow its Tail
December 23, 2001

The cute, cuddly cottontail rabbit is one of the few native animals that has been benefited by civilization. They are much more numerous today than they were when the early settlers began to cut the forests and plow the land for farming.

Woodland edges, thorny thickets, old fields, and brushy fencerows are their favorite haunts. Even in cities and towns their curious tracks in the snow can be seen crisscrossing lawns, gardens, and parks.

They are so successful that the 20 million taken by hunters in autumn does not reduce next year's crop.

Each cottontail has its own home territory, less than five acres in size, which it seldom leaves. Even when chased by a fox or dog, it circles back to its home base where it is familiar with every bush, brush pile, tangle of briars, and weed patch that offers protection.

The rabbit does not dig a burrow but uses old woodchuck dens, hollow logs, and tile drains to escape enemies or for shelter during stormy weather.

Cottontails (and humans) sometimes nibble between meals but their main feeding times are just after dawn and just before dusk. Their diet is mostly green plants- leaves, stems, flowerheads, and winter rosettes- both wild and cultivated. Clover and alfalfa are favorites. After nipping off a long stem, the rabbit lifts its head and with its split upper lip slowly feeds it endwise into the grinding molar teeth. When crusted snow covers its green food, they chew woody twigs and gnaw the bark from trees and shrubs with their chisel-like incisor teeth.

One of the most curious attributes of the cottontail is its fluffy, white tail for which it is named. If the object is to elude their foe, which could include fox, hawk, owl, or weasel, why sport such a flashy tail? Scientists explain its purpose in a theory termed the "flash pattern theory".

When a rabbit flees, flashing its white tail, it is not waving a flag of fear. The predator watches the tail and as long as it shows, the rabbit stops and sits quietly, it vanishes. The eyes that have been glued to the tail search beyond, while the rabbit fades into the background.

Females mate at six months and the average cottontail has four to five broods per year, usually between early spring and late summer. The gestation period is 28 days and broods may consist of one to eight offspring with an average of five.

They young are born blind, hairless and less than two inches long. Their eyes open in seven days and in two weeks they begin to venture out into their new world, equipped with and array of strategies to survive Mother Nature's challenges. And yes, they know how to use their tails!

This curious naturalist has noted that in "our area", cottontails seem to prefer areas of white cedar and aspen ("popple"). It has also been noted that they live in areas where there are hawk and /or owls nests present!

Further research has shown that these "rabbit predators" may choose an area to nest where their favorite food is abundant. However, this local food source is only used in emergencies, if at all. This guaranteed food source is a survival strategy if not enough food is found in the surrounding areas, especially during the time when baby hawks and owls are fiercely hungry.

Rabbit hunters take note: aspens and white cedar- and big tree nests present. Also of importance to the hunter (or bird watcher)- watch the weather. You will increase your chance of success if the wind is from the west, northwest, or north. It has been proven! But that is another story- for another time!