Melanistic Cottontail? Snowshoe Hare?
I was out and about in the back country and saw this rabbit on the road about 100 feet away. I had never seen a rabbit with marks and colors like this. After some research online, I concluded that this is likely a melanistic cottontail, that is a rabbit that had at least one parent that carried a gene that produces an overabundance of melanin that turns their skin and fur pigmentation black. If both parents carry the gene, it may produce an all-black offspring. This one has the white paws and a brown face like a normal mountain cottontail but mostly black fur with some white blotches on the body which makes me think it is likely a melanistic cottontail.
Any other ideas on identification anyone?
Melanistic Cottontail? Snowshoe Hare?
I was out and about in the back country and saw this rabbit on the road about 100 feet away. I had never seen a rabbit with marks and colors like this. After some research online, I concluded that this is likely a melanistic cottontail, that is a rabbit that had at least one parent that carried a gene that produces an overabundance of melanin that turns their skin and fur pigmentation black. If both parents carry the gene, it may produce an all-black offspring. This one has the white paws and a brown face like a normal mountain cottontail but mostly black fur with some white blotches on the body which makes me think it is likely a melanistic cottontail.
Any other ideas on identification anyone?