The intelligent mountain rabbit: discover how it survives and adapts in a harsh environment

When you climb up the hills, you see holes in the snow and traces of grass sprouting.
Here we are talking about the Mountain Cottontail, which is considered an intelligent animal despite its small size and activity.

Let’s learn more about it from teketrek.

Facts about The Mountain Cottontail

The Mountain Cottontail changes its fur color according to the season.
In winter, its fur is white or black, while in summer, it turns grayish-yellow.

The Mountain Cottontail lives a solitary life in the mountains.
It searches for food in the valleys where it can find warmth and digs through the snow to look for grass.

The scientific name is Sylvilagus nuttalli.
It belongs to the mammal family and is part of the rabbit order within the Lagomorpha order.

It also possesses a strong sense of smell..

The Mountain Cottontail can stand on its hind legs and reach for tree branches.
It digs tunnels and long passages in the snow to search for plants still stuck in the ice.

It has great walking and hopping abilities on snow.
When sensing danger, it freezes in place to avoid detection by predators.
When feeling threatened, the Mountain Cottontail can jump four meters to escape from foxes tracking its steps in the snow.

It cleans its fur daily to protect itself from the cold.
Its toes resemble ice cleats when spread out, enabling it to walk on snow.

Mountain Cottontails are nocturnal and hide in burrows during the day but come out when the weather is mild.

They can reduce urine output and are capable of drinking salty water

The Mountain Cottontail specification

The length: The Mountain Cottontail measures from 40 to 68 cm in length, with its tail ranging from 7 to 15 cm.

The body: Its body is oval-shaped, well-nourished, and has a unique digestive system that is ten times the size of its stomach.

The weight: The Mountain Cottontail weighs between 400 grams to 2 kg.

The Ears, eyelids: It has long ears and no eyelids, distinguishing it from other rabbit species.

The Jaw:  It has sharp incisor teeth in the front of its jaw to help cut vegetables and fruits.

The Legs: Mountain Cottontails move by hopping on their hind legs, which are longer than their front legs.

The color: The Mountain Cottontail has pale brown fur on its back and a pale brown tail.

Bears in winter: How do they survive the cold and adapt to the hibernation season?

The Mountain Cottontail Habitat: Where does the mountain cottontail live?

The Mountain Cottontail can be found in Canada and in the United States, ranging south to Arizona and New Mexico, and from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the western slopes of the Cascade Sierra Nevada range.

What Do Mountain Cottontails Eat?

Mountain Cottontails are herbivores, primarily feeding on grasses such as wheatgrass, bluegrass, and squirrel corn.
Their diet also includes shrubs like big sagebrush and rabbitbrush.
During winter months when food sources become limited, they may shift their diet to include more woody plant parts like bark and twigs.

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Reproduction Stages of the Mountain Cottontail

Mountain Cottontails build their nests, which are cup-like cavities lined with fur and grass, with the top covered by small sticks.
Mating occurs between February and July in warmer climates.
The gestation period lasts 28 to 30 days, with females giving birth to 4 to 6 offspring.
The young are born fully furred with their eyes open, unlike other rabbit species.
The mother visits them several times a day to nurse them during the lactation and weaning period, which occurs about a month after birth.

FAQs about the Mountain Cottontails 

1. How many subspecies of Mountain Cottontails are there? 

There are 12 subspecies of Mountain Cottontails, including:

·         Lepus capensis capensis

·         Lepus capensis aquilo

·         Lepus capensis carpi

·         Lepus capensis granti

·         Lepus capensis aegyptius

·         Lepus capensis hawkeri

·         Lepus capensis isabellinus

·         Lepus capensis Sinaiticus

·         Lepus capensis arabicus

·         Lepus capensis atlanticus

·         Lepus capensis whitakeri

·         Lepus capensis schlumberg

How do Mountain Cottontails behave during snowstorms?

During snowstorms, Mountain Cottontails wait out the storm hidden within their fur coats.
They tuck their black-tipped ears close to their necks.
They may rest there for consecutive days each time, only emerging briefly every hour or so to stretch or perhaps nibble on frozen vegetation before returning to their shelters.

What is the mountain cottontail behavior?

The mountain cottontail is solitary, likely due to the limited availability of food and the scarcity of shelter in its environment. It remains active year-round, constantly searching for areas with a sufficient food supply. Being crepuscular, it primarily feeds during dawn and dusk, often staying close to sheltering brush.

What are the predators of the mountain cottontail?

The eastern cottontail plays a crucial role in the diets of many carnivorous animals. Its primary predators include red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, foxes, coyotes, weasels, bobcats, and minks.

How intelligent are cottontail rabbits?

Yes, rabbits are surprisingly intelligent! Some breeds can even be trained to recognize their names and come when called. They also have excellent memories, particularly when it comes to remembering negative experiences and emotions.

In conclusion, these rabbits have adapted to living in cold conditions and snowy rituals with low temperatures.


References:

 Wikipedia