21JY7987W-SharpenAI-Standard
PHYSIOLOGY
Several species of cottontails inhabit North America, but here
in Eastern Ontario, the familiar “bunny rabbit” is the Eastern
Cottontail. Their dense coat is a greyish-brown with blacktipped guard hairs. Perhaps the most familiar mark is the short
white puffy tail (the cotton tail).
They are best known for their white fl uffy tail but there coat is greyish brown. Their underside is
usually white. They have excellent vision, sense of smell and hearing. The Eastern Cottontail has
large brown eyes that are set high on its head. Each eye can move more than half a circle.
Rabbits are generally quiet animals, although they may occasionally emit a few low grunts or
squeals. Their primary form of communication is by stamping their hind feet.
HABITAT/BEHAVIOUR
Rabbits like living on the edge. Edge habitat, that is, where thickets, hedgerows, or treed areas
meet old fi elds, agricultural lands or grassy meadows. Although they can be found in very open
woodlands, this is not a typical habitat. Some form of escape cover is essential and rabbits never
move too far away from brush piles, thickets, rock piles and burrows, which provide easy shelter
from their many predators. Any landscape that supplies a combination of the above is considered
good from a rabbit’s perspective.
21JY7987W-SharpenAI-Standard
PHYSIOLOGY
Several species of cottontails inhabit North America, but here
in Eastern Ontario, the familiar “bunny rabbit” is the Eastern
Cottontail. Their dense coat is a greyish-brown with blacktipped guard hairs. Perhaps the most familiar mark is the short
white puffy tail (the cotton tail).
They are best known for their white fl uffy tail but there coat is greyish brown. Their underside is
usually white. They have excellent vision, sense of smell and hearing. The Eastern Cottontail has
large brown eyes that are set high on its head. Each eye can move more than half a circle.
Rabbits are generally quiet animals, although they may occasionally emit a few low grunts or
squeals. Their primary form of communication is by stamping their hind feet.
HABITAT/BEHAVIOUR
Rabbits like living on the edge. Edge habitat, that is, where thickets, hedgerows, or treed areas
meet old fi elds, agricultural lands or grassy meadows. Although they can be found in very open
woodlands, this is not a typical habitat. Some form of escape cover is essential and rabbits never
move too far away from brush piles, thickets, rock piles and burrows, which provide easy shelter
from their many predators. Any landscape that supplies a combination of the above is considered
good from a rabbit’s perspective.