Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
What it is
The desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), also known as Audubon's cottontail, is a New World cottontail rabbit, and a member of the family Leporidae. Unlike the European rabbit, they do not form social burrow systems, but compared with some other leporids, they are extremely tolerant of other individuals in their vicinity.
Where and when to find it
- Habitat
- You'll find them in deserts, grasslands, and brushy areas in the southwestern US and parts of the Great Plains.
- How to find it
- Look for them at dawn or dusk, munching on grass or hiding under shrubs. They're quick, so you'll need to be quiet and patient.
- Best time of day
- Dawn and dusk, year-round.
How it lives
- What it eats
- Grasses, clover, mesquite, cactus pads, buds, seeds.
- What eats it
- Coyotes, bobcats, hawks, owls, snakes, foxes.
Worth knowing
- They create shallow scrapes in the ground under plants to rest, called 'forms'.
- Desert Cottontails can run in a zigzag pattern to escape predators.
- Their fur helps them blend in with the desert landscape.
- Their babies are born blind and without fur.
- They eat their own droppings to get all the nutrients from their food.
- They are mostly solitary, meaning they live alone.
Why it matters
Desert Cottontails are important food for many desert predators. They also help spread plant seeds and trim vegetation in their habitats.