# Mountain Cottontail (*Sylvilagus nuttallii*) The Mountain Cottontail is a small, fluffy rabbit that loves to hop around in the wild. With its big ears and soft fur, it's a delightful sight in the mountains and meadows. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Mountain Cottontail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Nuttall's_Cottontail_%28Sylvilagus_nuttallii%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Justin Wilde, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nuttall's_Cottontail_%28Sylvilagus_nuttallii%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Mountain Cottontail has grizzled grayish-brown fur on its back and sides, blending to a bright white belly. Its most distinctive feature is its fluffy white tail, visible when it runs, and it possesses relatively shorter ears compared to many other rabbit species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Lagomorpha - **Family:** Leporidae - **Genus:** Sylvilagus ## Interesting facts - A cottontail can communicate danger by thumping its powerful hind feet loudly on the ground. - Baby cottontails are born blind and helpless, relying completely on their mother for weeks! - Mountain Cottontails sometimes eat their own soft droppings to get extra nutrients from plants. - These rabbits often use abandoned burrows of marmots or badgers instead of digging their own. ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Coat:** Mountain Cottontail has a grayish-brown fur coat that helps them blend perfectly into rocky, scrubby habitats, making them hard to spot. - **Zig-Zag Escape Artist:** Mountain Cottontail can run in an unpredictable zig-zag pattern because of its strong hind legs, helping it evade predators quickly. - **Super Sniffer:** Mountain Cottontail can find food and detect danger because of its excellent sense of smell, vital for its survival in the wild. - **Keen Hearing:** Mountain Cottontail has large ears that can rotate, helping them pinpoint the exact location of quiet sounds, like a predator approaching. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 35-39 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-1.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-5 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-8 - **Gestation:** 28-30 days ## Diet & Feeding These plant-eaters munch on many types of vegetation found in their mountain homes. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Sagebrush leaves, Forbs, Twigs, Bark - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — A common predator in its range. - **Eaten by:** [Bobcat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bobcat) (*Lynx rufus*) — Preys on rabbits and small mammals. - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Hunts from the sky, a swift threat. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Another aerial predator, common in habitat. - **Eats:** [Big Sagebrush](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-sagebrush) (*Artemisia tridentata*) — A key food source, especially in winter. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a rabbit, watch quietly from a distance so you don't scare it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mountain Cottontail? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Mountain Cottontail? 35-39 cm ### How much does Mountain Cottontail weigh? 0.7-1.2 kg ### How long does Mountain Cottontail live? 1-5 years ### How fast can Mountain Cottontail move? 35 km/h ### What does Mountain Cottontail eat? These plant-eaters munch on many types of vegetation found in their mountain homes. ### Where is Mountain Cottontail usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Mountain Cottontail hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Leadville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leadville-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [William Allen White Cabins](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/william-allen-white-cabins) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Fort Washakie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-washakie) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [James Cant Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/james-cant-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/moraine-park-museum-and-amphitheater) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Rocky Mountain National Park Utility Area Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rocky-mountain-national-park-utility-area-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see Mountain Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mountain-cottontail) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Mountain Cottontail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-cottontail)