Mountain Cottontail
Sylvilagus nuttallii
Conservation Status
Least ConcernMammalia · Lagomorpha · Leporidae
About
The mountain cottontail or Nuttall's cottontail is a species of rabbit found in western Canada and the United States. It is a medium- to small-sized rabbit with pale brown fur, white undersides, a two-colored tail, and black-tipped, rounded ears with densely furred insides. It has notably rusty-colored legs and an orange nape. The mountain cottontail appears largely among coniferous forests in mountainous regions, including the slopes of the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade-Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, and adapts to a variety of elevations and vegetation. Its diet is made up of various grasses, shrubs, and sagebrush, as well as twigs, bark, or fungi in lesser amounts or when foliage is scarce.
Fun Fact
Being the smallest of the known "true hares" at the time, it was noted by Bachman as bearing resemblance to the American pika, then known as a member of the hares with the scientific name Lepus (Lagomys) princeps.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Occurs in coniferous forests, including the subalpine zone, living among rocky areas among sagebrush, in shrublands, or in wooded areas.
Diet
Diet of the mountain cottontail is primarily made up of sagebrush and varies toward grasses during the spring and summer seasons.
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Change
- Human Disturbance