Eastern Cottontail

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Statistics

• Activity: Mostly nocturnal but not strictly
• Breeding Season: February through September
• Breeding: 3 to 4 litters a year; 1 to 9 young per litter
• Description: Speckled brown-gray fur, big ears and eyes, puffy white tail
• Diet: Herbivores
• Habitat: Wooded and area land
• Independence: 7 weeks (size of a baseball)
• Lifespan: Average 15 months but can be up to 10 years

Common Issues

Rabbits Eating Gardens

The most effective protection is to build a fence. Chicken wire 2-feet high supported by posts every 6 to 8 feet apart will be strong enough for rabbits. Make sure the fence is buried 6 to 8 inches in the ground or staked securely to the ground to avoid pushing underneath. For individual plants cut the bottoms out of plastic bottles like milk containers or soda bottles and place over the plant.

Rabbits Chewing on Seedlings

Cut the bottoms out of plastic bottles like milk containers or soda bottles and place over the young tree. You can also use tree wrapping.

For More Information

For more information, call (757) 825-4657.