I was very close to completing a post on the “Millipede” today just to be funny, however, with Easter coming I thought it would be appropriate to end the week with the cute and cuddly Cottontail Rabbit. Now all you have to do today is sit back, grab some Cadbury Mini-Eggs and enjoy the Easter Wild Facts!
The cottontail rabbit is in the same family as the ever popular snowshoe hare but they are indeed different species. Normally your pet “rabbits” are actually hares. The cottontail rabbit received its name from the cotton-ball like tail that they possess. I know, thank you Captain Obvious, but I just wanted to make sure that everyone knew that little fact!
If you have ever watched a rabbit then you may know that they like to remain completely still hoping that you didn’t see them. I really don’t think, rabbits know the difference between freezing in the grassy meadow and freezing in the dense bush. This defense mechanism doesn’t usually work too well when they are in the wide open field. Therefore, it is a great thing that they have a secondary mechanism which is simply, RUN! They will take off running in a zig-zag pattern reaching speeds up to 29 km/hr (18 mph). I don’t know why they don’t just start with this strategy since it makes more sense to me than remaining still in a field. But, who am I to judge the behaviours of the cottontail rabbit?
Like a lot of people I use to have a pet “rabbit”, well, actually I use to have a couple of pet “rabbits”. Poor Furball! He was the best rabbit in the whole wide world! Okay, I am getting side-tracked! What I was getting at before my little trip down memory lane was how they use to thump their back feet quite often. Both domestic and wild rabbits will thump their feet as a form of communication. It is sort of like saying, “Hey Gizmo (one of my other rabbits) someone is coming so you better stop chewing on the TV cord!” In the wild the conversation would be more along the lines of “All you cottontails that can hear this had better be on the look-out for the fox that is lurking in the bush!” Rabbits also communicate with each other by making grunting noises. Who knew that the cottontail rabbit had such a diverse vocabulary.
Well folks, enjoy your long weekend and have a Happy Easter!
Overload of cute!
My first pet was a black & white Dutch rabbit named Cindy. Many years later, my sister had a white rabbit named Thumper (original, I know) that ate my phone cord! It made me laugh when you mentioned the TV cord.
It is funny how we always remember the first pet the most.
That is hilarious that Thumper ate your phone cord. Those little rascals sure do like to chew on various cords! Thanks for sharing the story!
Oh my goodness – so cute. I want one! (Such much nicer to visit when there isn’t an ugly creepy crawler smacking me in the face first thing – just sayin’)
hahaha…. I completely understand where you are coming from, Grace.
Maybe I will need to offset the insect pictures with cute and cuddly animals. For example, I can get a bunny holding a centipede! It might be tough finding those pictures though 🙂
rabbits r so cute
They sure are Jennifer. Well, except that Bunnicula one that I read about when I was a kid. I think it was a vampire bunny rabbit that sucked the juice out of vegetables.
@Grace, i completely agree with you really wish i get one i never knew cottontails were so cute!
Oooo, what yummy-looking bunnies! Oops, I meant CUTE! Yeah, that’s right.
hahahaha! Drop the bunny, Sparkle! They are not for you to eat!!
ACK! Cutest. Bunny. EVER. (The one in your first picture)
Too bad bunnies don’t lay eggs.
Otherwise I’d love an endless supply of Cadbury mini-eggs. Those things are addictive like crack!
I wonder if the wild bunnies I see running around my street are hares or rabbits?
I thought the picture of the bunny was pretty adorable as well! Just reading about Cadbury mini-eggs has me craving some! I think I need to take a trip into town today to pick up some chocolate!! For the record, I think mini-eggs are more addictive than crack!
I am not too sure what kind of bunny you have running around. The hares and rabbits look similar as they go zipping by. Nonetheless, they are always fun to watch!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, aletheia!
Perfect post for Easter. What an adorable bunny. The picture is absolutely gorgeous….the caption should read…Freeze “Hands Up”. You fibbed on the phone when you said this post wasn’t about Easter….I knew you would.
Have a good one!
I just fibbed to you so I wouldn’t ruin the surprise!!!
“Hands Up” would have been a pretty good caption! I went with Freeze Tag since that is what they look like they are doing when the see danger. They just stop and sit there as if waiting for someone to run under their arms again so they can move.
Have a great day!
Hi my friend Hailey showed me this website, because our class is doing a project on Canadian animals does the cottontailed rabbit live in Canada
Hi Hope,
Wow, Hailey is really promoting Wild Facts, isn’t she? You are the second classmate of hers this week 🙂
There are several species of Cottontail Rabbits with the Eastern Cottontail being the most common. You can definitely find these cuddly little rabbits in Canada and throughout the United States.
If you have any other questions about the Cottontail Rabbit or any other animal then please don’t be shy to ask.
@Hope, hi,and i found alot of info on rabbits…thank god for this website!
Does it the Canada? My friend wants to do a project on it ( I think she’s to shy to ask you herself though) 🙂
Hi Hailey,
I am going to have to start paying you a commission for the number of people you are sending to Wild Facts. Unfortunately, this is a non-profit website 🙂
I did respond to Hope in her comment but yes the Cottontail Rabbit does indeed reside in Canada.
oops I ment does it live in Canada? 🙂
@Hailey, i think so
i have a bunny 9 weeks old got him yesterdat my cats are jellus they can smell him
@jasmine, poor cats I have kittens
hi, i think this website ROCKS 🙂
Thanks!
im studying it . So cute pics!!!!!!!!!!!
So cute, want to marry it
On Easter this year, my puppies found a rabbit nest containing 4 babies. They unfortunately killed 2, but I was able to save the other 2. They have open eyes n erect ears now so I made them a little nest in a bush, lined it with Timothy grass, placed them, covered ’em with more grass n leaves. I just hope they will be alright.