# White-tailed Jackrabbit (*Lepus townsendii*) The White-tailed Jackrabbit has long ears and powerful legs, perfect for hopping fast! They have a fluffy white tail that stands out when they run away from danger. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![White-tailed Jackrabbit](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/White-tailed_Jackrabbit.jpg&width=800) Photo: Adam Lowe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White-tailed_Jackrabbit.jpg) ## Appearance The White-tailed Jackrabbit has sandy brown to yellowish-brown fur with a contrasting white belly. Its most distinctive features are its very long, black-tipped ears and a short, fluffy white tail that is visible when it runs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Lagomorpha - **Family:** Leporidae - **Genus:** Lepus ## Interesting facts - Instead of burrows, they hide in shallow, scratched-out dips called "forms." - Jackrabbits got their name because their long ears looked like a donkey's ears! - These aren't true rabbits! They're hares, born with fur and open eyes. - To warn others of danger, they thump their powerful hind feet on the ground. ## Special abilities - **Lightning Leaper:** White-tailed Jackrabbit can sprint up to 55 km/h and zig-zag sharply to escape predators. - **Seasonal Blending:** White-tailed Jackrabbit has fur that turns white in winter, helping it disappear in snowy landscapes. - **Supersonic Ears:** White-tailed Jackrabbit has huge swiveling ears that pinpoint faint sounds of approaching danger. - **Bounding Escape:** White-tailed Jackrabbit can make long, powerful leaps using its strong hind legs to flee quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 56-76 cm - **Weight:** 2.5-4.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-11 - **Gestation:** 35-40 days ## Diet & Feeding These plant-eaters munch on grasses, herbs, and woody plants in their open habitats. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, forbs, sagebrush, twigs, bark - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — This predator hunts jackrabbits for food across the plains. - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Soars above, snatching jackrabbits from open habitats. - **Eats:** [Big Sagebrush](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-sagebrush) (*Artemisia tridentata*) — Jackrabbits browse its leaves and twigs, especially in winter. - **Eats:** Blue Grama (*Bouteloua gracilis*) — This common grass is a key food source for them. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [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 and don't try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-tailed Jackrabbit? 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 White-tailed Jackrabbit? 56-76 cm ### How much does White-tailed Jackrabbit weigh? 2.5-4.3 kg ### How long does White-tailed Jackrabbit live? 5-8 years ### How fast can White-tailed Jackrabbit move? 55 km/h ### What does White-tailed Jackrabbit eat? These plant-eaters munch on grasses, herbs, and woody plants in their open habitats. ### Where is White-tailed Jackrabbit usually found? Grasslands ### How does White-tailed Jackrabbit hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Red River Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-river-zoo) — North Dakota, US · Zoo ## 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: [White-tailed Jackrabbit: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-jackrabbit)