I must admit that since Super Bowl LX, I’ve had bunnies on the brain. When you think of bunnies Bad Bunny, Bugs Bunny, Thumper, Peter Rabbit, Roger Rabbit, or even the Easter Bunny might hop into your mind. But how much do you know about the actual wild rabbits you can find in your backyard?

The US South is home to four species of wild rabbits, and they play an important role in nature. Rabbits are avid grazers. These herbivores forage on flowers, grasses, herbs, shrubs, weeds, and woody vegetation. Rabbits help keep plant health in balance. They keep weeds under control and encourage biodiversity. Their waste improves soil fertility and promotes plant growth. Because it’s high in nitrogen and phosphorus, it acts as a natural fertilizer. They’re a significant part of the food web. Wild rabbits are also whimsical and a joy to observe in nature. Learn how to identify them and where you’re most likely to find them.

Eastern Cottontail

Eastern cottontails have reddish to grayish brown mottled fur and a white underside. They sometimes have a white spot on their forehead and a rusty patch on their rump. Their tail is short, white, and fluffy like their name implies. They also have a white or light colored ring around their eyes. They have large hind feet, long ears, and big brown eyes that help them detect predators. Adults range from 12.5 – 20 inches in length and weigh between 2 – 4 lbs.

This species is most active at dawn, dusk, and at night. They are territorial and typically stay within the same range. Their speed and agility helps them evade predators. They can run as fast as 18 mph when chased and will typically flee in a zigzag pattern. Eastern cottontails do not dig burrows. Instead they scratch out a shallow hole in grass or thick vegetation. They also seek shelter in the abandoned dens of groundhogs.

Eastern cottontails are the most abundant and expansive rabbit species in North America. Their range spans from southern Canada to northern Colombia. It includes most of the contiguous US from the East Coast to the Great Plains. Eastern cottontails prefer open meadows, grassy fields, thickets, and forest edges. They seldom roam far from the safety of cover. The IUCN Red List considers their conservation status as “least concern”. But they do face threats like disease, predation, habitat loss, and vehicle collisions.

Appalachian Cottontail

Appalachian cottontails are distant relatives of eastern cottontails. Visually the two are quite similar, and it can be hard to tell them apart. Appalachian cottontails have golden brown mottled fur. You’ll notice they have a rusty neck patch and a white underside. They often have a black spot in between their ears and lack a white spot on their forehead. Their tails are also short, white, and fluffy. They have large hind legs, long ears, and big brown eyes. Females are typically larger than males. Adults range from 15.5 – 17 inches in length and weigh between 1.75 – 3 lbs.

This species is most active at dawn and dusk. During the day they take shelter in dense vegetation. To avoid detection, they move slowly, close to the ground with their ears back. They’re also known to remain quiet and still for up to 15 minutes. When chased, they run in a zigzag pattern to escape predators.

You can find Appalachian cottontails from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. But they’re most prominent in the Appalachians. They’re found in dense forests, brushy areas, and scrub forests. They prefer higher elevations (2,001 to 2,500 ft). Logging and development threaten Appalachian cottontail habitats. The IUCN Red List considers their conservation status as “near threatened”. Unfortunately, their populations are decreasing.

Marsh Rabbit

Marsh rabbits are members of the cottontail family and look similar to eastern cottontails. But their faces are slightly mousier. They have blackish brown to reddish brown mottled fur and a grayish underside. Their tails are a bluish gray earning them the name of bluetails. They have black tufts of fur on the prominent edge of their ears. Their ears are also shorter and rounder than eastern cottontails’ ears. They have short legs and often walk on all fours rather than hop. Their hind feet have noticeably long toenails. Adults range from 15.5 – 18 inches in length and weigh between 2.5 – 5 lbs.

This species is most active at night. They rest during daylight hours hidden in tall grasses, dense shrubs, or hollow logs. Marsh rabbits do not dig burrows. Instead they use the abandoned dens of other animals. Or they’ll create a shallow sunken area under thick vegetation or within hollow trees. Marsh rabbits are avid swimmers and are semi-aquatic. They sometimes hide in muddy waters with only their eyes and nose exposed with their ears tucked back.

Marsh rabbits have a range that spans from coastal Virginia to the lower Florida Keys. They’re only found in wet, lowland habitats and must live near a permanent water source. They prefer marshes, swamps, coastal areas, or anywhere near lakes, rivers, and other waterways. The IUCN Red List considers their conservation status as “least concern”. But the Lower Keys marsh rabbit, a subspecies, is federally recognized as endangered. They’ve lost more than half of their habitat to sea level rise and development in the last 50 years.

Swamp Rabbits

Swamp rabbits are the largest in the cottontail species. They’re closely related to marsh rabbits. Their fur is light to dark rusty brown with black speckling. Their chin, throat, and underside are white. They have a cinnamon colored ring around their brown eyes. Their short tails are brown on top and white on the bottom. They have large orange hind legs and medium sized ears. Males are typically larger than females. Adults range from 17.5 – 21.5 inches in length and weigh between 3.5 – 6 lbs.

This species is most active at dawn, dusk, and at night. You’ll rarely see them during daylight hours. They’re very territorial and will leave scent marks to establish their range. Swamp rabbits rest in tall grasses or dense vegetation where they’ve made shallow dugouts for safety. They’re skilled swimmers and will dive into water to escape predators. They sometimes hide in water with only their eyes and nose exposed like marsh rabbits. On land they will flee using confusing maneuvers like zigzagging to evade capture.

Swamp rabbits are native to the south central US and the Gulf coast. They’re most abundant in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. But their range includes Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. They prefer wet, lowland habitats near a permanent water source. You’ll find them in cypress swamps, marshes, floodplains, or near waterways. The IUCN Red List considers their conservation status as “least concern”. Though they note that populations are decreasing overall. Data shows the species is rare or imperiled due to loss of habitat in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and South Carolina.

Bunnies in Your Backyard

Most wild rabbits breed from January through September. But mating season can vary depending on elevation, climate, and other factors. Wild rabbits build their nests in dense, low vegetation. You’re most likely to discover their nests while gardening, landscaping, or mowing. If you have rabbit activity in your yard, it’s best to check your grounds for nests before mowing. Especially before your first mow of the year in spring. This could help you avoid discovering a rabbit nest too late.

Female rabbits will avoid drawing attention to their nests so the young are often left alone for long stretches of time. If you happen upon a nest of baby bunnies, it’s best to leave it as you found it. Young rabbits found outside the nest usually do not need human help. As long as they’re 4 or more inches long and are able to hop freely. If they’re smaller than 4 inches, injured, or immobile, it’s best to call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for help. Be careful not to draw predator attention to the nest.

Wild rabbits don’t live very long. On average, their lifespan ranges from 1 year to 18 months. But there have been records of individuals living as long as 9 years in captivity. If you’re lucky enough to have wild rabbits in your backyard, know that their time with you is short. Enjoy watching them forage, lounge, and hop around. Observe them from afar and always keep your distance. Wild animals, even the cute and fuzzy ones, should always be treated with respect and caution.

Watching wild rabbits in my backyard is one of my favorite pastimes. It makes me feel happy to know they feel safe enough to make my backyard their home. I love watching them play and chase each other along the tall grass. They make me smile when they lay stretched out like they have nowhere to go and nothing to do. I also look forward to seeing baby bunnies hopping around the yard throughout the year. Observing nature always calms me and fills me with delight. They remind me to touch grass. To be wild and free.

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