Understanding Animals in the Same Sylvilagus Floridanus Species

The Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is a common sight in many parts of North America. They are herbivores, feeding on a variety of plants including grasses, leaves, and fruits.

These animals are highly adaptable, able to thrive in a range of habitats from forests to grasslands. They are also skilled at avoiding predators, with a keen sense of smell and exceptional speed.

Eastern cottontails are social creatures, often living in small family groups. They are also known to be territorial, with individuals fiercely defending their home ranges from other cottontails.

Marsh rabbits have a distinctive appearance, with a blackish brown or dark reddish dorsal surface, and a dingy brownish gray belly in most cases. The belly can also appear dull white in mainland rabbits.

Their ears display small black tufts with ochre on the inside, and rough hair on the dorsal side is often fringed with black hairs. This fringing can change color depending on the season.

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In the spring and summer, the black portions of the upper parts often turn a dull grayish buff, but return to a reddish or ochre color in the fall, followed by darker black in the winter. This color change is less pronounced in rabbits from the Florida peninsula.

Juveniles have much darker and duller colors than adults, and are typically smaller than eastern cottontail rabbits. Adults from the Florida peninsula weigh around 2.2-2.6 pounds, while those from mainland regions can weigh up to 3.5 pounds.

Their hind feet are smaller in Florida peninsula rabbits, measuring 3.5 inches on average, compared to 3.6 inches in mainland rabbits.

Cottontails are typically found in areas where two types of cover meet, such as fence rows or tangled thickets in pastures or along roadsides. They prefer areas not far from a water source, like a pond, creek, or spring.

A cottontail's home range can vary depending on the quality of habitat. On average, a female cottontail's home range is five to 15 acres, while a male's may be as much as 100 acres.

Rabbits rely on shrubs or woody vegetation for escape cover, and they like it even better when it's dense and thorny.

Eastern cottontails are most abundant in areas with a mix of weeds, grasses, and short brush. They thrive in patches of dense shrub thickets, brushy fencerows, and blackberry thickets.

In ideal habitats, these patches are close to feeding areas, providing a safe escape route for rabbits from predators. Well-drained fields of dense grass, like switchgrass, are also prime nesting cover.

Rabbits need escape cover, and it's crucial to have it in close proximity to feeding areas. A strip of VA-70 lespedeza planted adjacent to a food plot can provide this safety net.

Some good choices for food plots include clover, winter wheat, and rye. These plants allow cottontails to feed safely and escape into dense cover when attacked by predators.

Natural patches of escape cover, like blackberry and plum thickets, overgrown fencerows, and cattails, should be maintained. Periodic disking, every 3-5 years, can help native grasses, forbs, and legumes flourish.

Burning is perhaps the most effective tool for creating and maintaining early successional habitat. However, it's essential to consult with a professional before starting a burning regime.

The mainland marsh rabbit ranges from Virginia to northern Florida and the Gulf Coast, occupying coastal lowland areas, swamps, and rivers. They're rarely found more than 40 miles from the coast.

Marsh rabbits commonly inhabit brackish and freshwater marshes, mainly of cattails and cypress. They often enter tidal marshes but remain near high ground for protection.

Here's a breakdown of the types of habitats where cottontails can be found:

Rabbits rely on shrubs or woody vegetation for escape cover. The denser and thornier the cover, the better the rabbit likes it.

Cottontail populations have declined over the past fifty years or so.

The main reason for this decline is the loss of early successional habitat, particularly woody escape cover, due to changes in land use and farming practices.

Conversion of farmland to other uses, such as urbanization, has also played a significant role in the decline of cottontail populations.

Areas that have good habitat can still support abundant populations, which is a promising sign for the future of these animals.

Increases in cottontail predators have likely been exacerbated by the habitat changes mentioned earlier, further contributing to the decline of their populations.

Despite the challenges, it's heartening to know that with proper habitat management, cottontail populations can still thrive.

Marsh rabbits are most active at night, spending most of their daylight hours resting in hidden areas. They can be found in dense thickets, hollow logs, and stands of cattails and grasses.

Frequent hiding spots include abandoned burrows of other animals. Marsh rabbits are skilled at taking advantage of these hidden spaces.

Marsh rabbits frequently make runway trails in dense vegetation along marsh edges. These trails are easily identifiable by the presence of fecal pellets.

One distinguishing habit of marsh rabbits is their tendency to walk on all fours, placing each foot down alternately like a cat. This smaller gait has been measured at 3.5-6.5 in between steps.

Marsh rabbits are more agile in dense vegetation due to their walking tendency. They can hop like other rabbits, but this gait is less common.

The major characteristic of the footprint pattern of marsh rabbits is widely spread toes. This is a unique feature not seen in other rabbits.

Marsh rabbits are excellent swimmers, taking to water readily. They will stay submerged in muddy water with only their eyes and noses exposed.

When flushed out of hiding spots, marsh rabbits may squeal as they escape. This is a common response to being startled or threatened.

Marsh rabbits breed year-round, producing up to 6 litters per year with an average of 15 to 20 young.

Adult females of the Sylvalagus floridanus species build nests from rushes, grasses, and leaves, lined with hair from their own bodies.

Gestation periods vary between 30 to 37 days for marsh rabbits, and 25 to 28 days for cottontails.

Female cottontails nurse their young 1 to 2 times per day, but take little care of them otherwise.

Young cottontails leave the nest within 7 weeks, and reach sexual maturity by 2 to 3 months old.

Here's a comparison of the reproductive cycles of marsh rabbits and cottontails:

Young marsh rabbits are born with their eyes open, while cottontail young are born blind and helpless, with their eyes opening in about 4 to 5 days.

Female cottontails can produce up to 7 litters of 3 to 5 young each year, making them quite prolific.

Cottontails can thrive in areas with good habitat management. A key aspect of this is providing plenty of escape cover in close proximity to feeding areas.

Planting a strip of VA-70 lespedeza adjacent to a food plot is a great way to create a safe feeding area for cottontails. Clover, winter wheat, and rye are good choices for food plots.

Prescribed burnings can also be effective in creating and maintaining early successional habitat. Burning is perhaps the most effective tool for creating and maintaining early successional habitat, but it's essential to consult with a professional before starting a burning regime.

The marsh rabbit, a subspecies of the cottontail, is considered an endangered species in the Lower Keys. This is due to the invasive Burmese python, which preys on marsh rabbits in the Everglades.

Periodic disking can also help maintain native vegetation and create favorable plants for cottontails. Disking every 3-5 years, preferably in the fall or winter, can promote the growth of native grasses, forbs, and legumes.

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The marsh rabbit is a resilient species, but its populations are facing threats in certain areas. The Lower Keys marsh rabbit subspecies has been listed as an endangered species since 1990 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Unfortunately, the Burmese python has been a major contributor to the decline of marsh rabbit populations in the southern parts of Everglades National Park. This invasive species has been causing significant harm to the native wildlife.

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As of 2019, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the marsh rabbit as a least-concern species, suggesting that the species as a whole is not currently threatened. However, this does not mean that conservation efforts are not needed.

Populations in Georgia appear to be declining based on studies of roadkill deaths, highlighting the need for continued conservation efforts.

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To create a haven for cottontails, focus on providing both quality and quantity of habitat. The main goal is to offer plenty of escape cover in close proximity to feeding areas.

Planting a strip of VA-70 lespedeza adjacent to a food plot is an effective way to allow cottontails to feed safely and escape into dense cover when needed. Clover, winter wheat, and rye are good choices for food plots.

Prescribed burning is a great tool for creating and maintaining early successional habitat. Burning can be done periodically to set back succession and allow native grasses, forbs, and legumes to flourish.

Natural patches of escape cover, such as blackberry and plum thickets, overgrown fencerows, and areas with dense shrubs, should be maintained. Periodic disking will help keep these areas healthy.

Disking every 3-5 years, especially during the fall and winter, is ideal for creating favorable plants. This can also be accomplished through burning, which is perhaps the most effective tool for creating and maintaining early successional habitat.

Allowing a strip of herbaceous vegetation to regenerate on the edges of fields can also provide safe feeding areas for cottontails. This practice doesn't incur any real cost and can benefit cottontails in marginal areas of your property.