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From winter to spring, weight tends to increase in females due to pregnancy, but decrease in males due to the stresses of reproductive competition. Thus, females in Iowa went from averaging 3,600 g (7.9 lb) in winter to 3,800 g (8.4 lb) in spring and males from averaging 3,400 g (7.5 lb) in winter to 3,100 g (6.8 lb) in spring. [3]
Like other jackrabbits, the black-tailed jackrabbit has distinctive long ears, and the long powerful rear legs characteristic of hares.Reaching a length about 2 ft (61 cm), and a weight from 3 to 6 lb (1.4 to 2.7 kg), the black-tailed jackrabbit is the third-largest North American jackrabbit, after the antelope jackrabbit and the white-tailed jackrabbit.
Its body length ranges from 52 to 58 cm (20 to 23 in) long and its tail can be 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) long. Its front legs grow to be 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in) and the back legs can grow to be 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) long. The antelope jackrabbit's ears grow to be 14–17 cm (6–7 in) and it can weigh up to 9 pounds (4.1 kg). [5]
Rabbits and rodents can cause injury to the thin bark and twigs of young trees. When snow covers food sources normally sought during winter, these animals often move into home lawns in search of food.
Although they can hop like all rabbits, they are more agile in dense vegetation with this walking tendency. [ 7 ] [ 8 ] This smaller gait has been measured at 3.5-6.5 in (8.9-16.5 cm) between steps. [ 14 ]
Rabbit jumping over a fence at a Rabbit Show Jumping Competition. Rabbit show jumping (Swedish: Kaninhoppning [1]), also known as rabbit agility [2] or rabbit hopping, [3] is an animal sport wherein domestic rabbits are led through a course by their owners, [4] modelled after horse show jumping.
The eastern cottontail is a very territorial animal. When chased, it runs in a zigzag pattern, running up to 18 mph (29 km/h). The cottontail prefers an area where it can be out in the open but hide quickly. Forests, swamps, thickets, bushes, or open areas where shelter is close by are optimal habitation sites for this species.
Occurrence and litter size depend on several factors, including time of the year, weather, and location. The average litter size is four, but can range from as few as two to as many as eight, most of whom do not go on to survive to adulthood. Cottontail rabbits show a greater resistance to myxomatosis than European rabbits. [2]