Sylvilagus audubonii
The cottontail is approximately 15 inches long, buff brown above and white below, and a white “cotton ball” tail. It breeds rapidly and has several litters a year, with 4-6 young in each litter. Unlike the hare, the cottontail babies are born without fur and with their eyes closed. The female cares for them in a grass-lined burrow. When alarmed, the rabbit will make one loud thump with one hind leg. This is thought to be a danger signal or perhaps a reaction to fear. No other animal of its size has so many natural predators.
Habitat: It can be found throughout the recreation area on brushy slopes, in washes, and in mesquite thickets in the middle to high elevation desert areas. Diet: It is an herbivore that eats a wide range of plant material including grasses, leaves, plant buds, bark, and annual wildflowers. Adaptations: The desert cottontail is very well camouflaged and is difficult to see, even when it is moving.
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