The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) is found throughout the western United States in the desert, open plains, and foothills . The jackrabbit is actually not a rabbit, but a hare. Hares live in open areas and rely on running in a zigzag pattern to escape their predators.
What states have jack rabbits?
The black-tailed jackrabbit can be found in the western United States from Washington south to California and east to Nebraska and Texas . It is an introduced species in Kentucky and New Jersey.
What state has the most jack rabbits?
The biggest population of jackrabbits, by far, was in an area of northwestern South Dakota in Harding and Butte counties where there were about 70 jackrabbits per square mile.
Where do wild jack rabbits live?
Most jackrabbits live in the same types of habitats, and can live in a variety of different ecosystems if they have enough food sources. They live in open areas, with little to no trees or large bushes. Some commonly used habitats include scrubland, prairie, desert, and other arid-environment habitats .
Where are jackrabbits native to?
The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), also known as the American desert hare, is a common hare of the western United States and Mexico , where it is found at elevations from sea level up to 10,000 ft (3,000 m).
Do jack rabbits eat their poop?
Rabbits and hares beat this problem with a special kind of digestion called hindgut fermentation. In short, they eat their own poop and digest it a second time. ... It’s very important for a rabbit’s digestive system to keep moving fluidly, as they need to re-ingest their cecotropes in order to get the nutrients they need.
Are jack rabbits aggressive?
While a rabbit’s first instinct will be to run away and hide from anything that scares them, they can easily become aggressive and attack if they feel cornered . Most rabbits who regularly attack humans out of fear have learned that their aggressive behaviors will get people to go away.
What is a female jack rabbit called?
Baby jackrabbits are called leverets . Female jackrabbits give birth six weeks after mating and have litters of 1-6 leverets. Female jackrabbits have as many as four litters each year! Leverets grow quickly and do not need much help to survive.
Are jack rabbits invasive?
Eastern Cottontails are introduced, invasive species occurring only here and there . ... Sometimes Black-tailed Jackrabbits are called Desert Hares, and that name is appropriate because the species is most abundantly found in desert, prairie and chaparral communities, and jackrabbits are considered to be hares.
Can a jack rabbit be a pet?
Jackrabbits, and other hares, have not been domesticated and don’t usually make good pets. However, there are a couple of rabbit breeds who look very much like jackrabbits and can make lovely companions, the Belgian hare perhaps being the most hare-like example.
How big can a jack rabbit get?
Large animals
A black-tailed jackrabbit can grow up to 24 inches (61 cm) in length , weigh as much as 8 lbs. (3.6 kg) and live upwards of five years. Their powerful back legs can propel them across the landscape at a speed of nearly 40 mph (64 kph) and their leaps can exceed 20 feet (6 m).
How often do jack rabbits reproduce?
Females usually mate multiple times per year, having between four and six litters every year , depending on climate conditions. In temperate climates, jack rabbits breed year-round, but in colder areas breeding takes place between December and September.
Is a jackalope a real thing?
The jackalope was a myth throughout the American West for generations, dating back to the trappers who first settled the region in the late 1700s and early 1800s. It has the body of a large rabbit, and spikey antlers reach out from its head.
Why are they called jackrabbits?
Jackrabbits were named for their ears , which initially caused some people to refer to them as “jackass rabbits.” The writer Mark Twain brought this name to fame by using it in his book of western adventure, Roughing It. The name was later shortened to jackrabbit.
Are jack rabbits fast?
They can achieve speeds of up to 40 mph . When at a moderate run, every four to five leaps are exceptionally high to see their surroundings or predators. The jackrabbit runs with its ears flat and tail between its haunches. It will leap over objects rather than run around them.
