Habitat: All kinds of habitats including swamps, marshes, deserts, woodlands, grasslands, prairies, volcanic slopes, in cities and suburbs; in ports of every continent except Antarctica. There are also no rabbits on the island of Madagascar. In North America, most cottontails spend the day resting in shallow dens called “forms,” but if threatened these animals may seek shelter in the abandoned burrows of other animals. Many Old World rabbits dig elaborate tunnels and chambers known as “warrens.”

Diet: Herbivore (eats plants), mostly grasses.

Physical Description: Weight: 5-14 pounds Length: 16-19 inches long. Monocular vision which gives them 180 degree range of vision. Have a blind spot directly in front and directly behind head. 85% of wild rabbits die before they are 1 year old.

Behavior: Thumps hind feet which sends out vibrations that are recognized as danger signals by other rabbits. Few vocalizations are heard, but young will scream when hungry, adults will scream if in pain. Have acute sense of sight and hearing.

Reproduction: Breeding is usually in January-February; can mate year round. Doe (female) lines nest with leaves or grass and some of her own fur. 3-14 altricial (helpless) babies are born blind, hairless and weigh about 1 ounce following a 28-40 day gestation. Doe will come into heat for 1 hour after giving birth and will leave nest to copulate. She stays away from the nest except to nurse 3 times during the night. Babies can see, hear and travel by 6-8 days. Will nurse for 3-4 weeks and are on their own in 4-5 weeks. They are sexually mature at 4 months and can have 5 litters per year.

Status: Common

Fun Facts:

	Their burrowing loosens soil, which can be advantageous for certain plant and animal species, and abandoned burrows provide ready-made shelters.
	Rabbits are in the order lagomorphs – and they are the most hunted of all animals.
	Rabbits are herbivores which mean they ingest a lot of plant matter. Plants are hard to break down, so once expelled from the body in the form of a pellet, they will be eaten and re-digested to ensure a better chance of absorbing the maximum amount of nutrition from the food.