Jackrabbit

“A black-tailed jackrabbit can cover ten feet of distance in just one leap”

A black-tailed jackrabbit is a hare found in the south and western parts of the United States as well as in Mexico. Along with having a black tail, this hare has fur colors of grayish-brown on most of its body with white fur on its face. It’s an herbivore eating grass, bark, cacti, and twigs. The lifespan of this hare is five to eight years.

5 Incredible Jackrabbit Facts!

• Its typical habitat includes fields, plains, and the desert.
• This hare has scent glands near its tail it uses to mark its territory.
• It has a running speed of at least 40mph.
• It runs in a zig-zag pattern to elude coyotes, bobcats, and other predators.
• The lifespan of this hare goes up to eight years in the wild.

Scientific name

Lepus californicus is the scientific name of the black-tailed jackrabbit. Another name for this animal is the American desert hare. The word Lepus refers to this hare’s genus and the word californicus refers to California which is one place where this animal is found. It is in the Leporidae family and the class Mammalia.

Evolution

According to fossil evidence, the genus Lepus was represented in North America around 2.5 million years ago, by the extinct jackrabbit species, Lepus giganteus. This giant rabbit was very similar to the antelope jackrabbit and is believed to be the common ancestor of the antelope jackrabbit and the black-tailed jackrabbit.

Subspecies

Subspecies of the black-tailed jackrabbit are:

• Lepus californicus californicus
• Lepus californicus deserticola
• Lepus californicus madalenae
• Lepus californicus melanotis
• Lepus californicus texianus
• Lepus californicus insularis

Appearance & Behavior

The fur of this animal features a combination of colors, namely gray and brown. Along with a black tail, it has white fur on its face and yellow eyes with round black pupils. This hare is up to two feet long and can weigh three to eight pounds. Ten pounds is the heaviest this hare can be.

Its long ears are the most notable feature of this animal. When it comes to proper identification, a hare’s ears can grow as long as seven inches while a rabbit’s ears are only three or four inches long. The back feet of a hare are also longer than a rabbit’s hind feet. A hare uses its long hind feet to propel itself off the ground to leap a distance of ten feet while running. When you picture this animal leaping ten feet, keep in mind that a distance of ten feet is equal to half the length of an adult giraffe!

The gray and brown fur of a black-tailed jackrabbit helps it to blend in with its desert and plains habitat. This camouflage helps protect these hares from predators. This animal’s speed is another defense it has against predators. This animal can reach a speed of up to 45 mph. Furthermore, it runs in a zig-zag pattern which can put even more distance between this animal and its predators.

These are solitary animals. This is another difference in identification between hares and rabbits. Rabbits are social animals living in large groups. Hares are known to be shy and non-aggressive.

Habitat

Black-tailed jackrabbits live in the western and southern parts of the United States and the northern part of Mexico. They are found on the open plains, in rocky areas, and in a desert habitat. These hares can survive in an arid to temperate climate.

Hares rest during the day between large rocks or beneath dense bushes. This helps them to stay cool in more arid environments. They come out in the evening as the sun is going down and are active during the night. Their eyes are excellent at detecting motion in the dark. However, their sense of smell and hearing is much sharper than their sense of sight. Though these animals are frequently on the move within their territory, they’re not considered migratory animals.

Diet

What Do Black-tailed Jackrabbits Eat?

The main part of a black-tailed jackrabbit’s diet is grass. If the grass is sparse in their environment, they may eat bark, weeds, or even cacti.

A hare is able to digest cacti, bark, and other hard vegetation because it travels to the appendix where it’s broken down before it reaches the animal’s stomach.

Predators

What Eats Black-tailed jackrabbits?

Coyotes are the main predators of these hares. Other predators include bobcats, hawks, and eagles.

All of these predators can travel at a high rate of speed just like the black-tailed jackrabbit. A coyote or bobcat may stalk a jackrabbit out looking for vegetation at dusk. Those two animals are experts at hiding and stalking their prey. Alternatively, a hawk or an eagle may spot one while sitting on a high branch in a tree. These birds can swoop down and pick up this mammal with their sharp talons. Furthermore, they are large enough to carry the weight of this hare as they fly away.

These speedy animals are at risk of habitat loss. Their population is decreasing; however, their conservation status is the Least Concern.

Reproduction, Babies, and Life Cycle

The mating season of this hare goes from January to August. During this time, male and female black-tailed jackrabbits run around chasing each other and leaping in the air, all in an effort to find a mate. These hares have many different partners in a mating season, and a female has three to four litters of babies each year. The gestation period is 41 to 47 days long and the female gives live birth to between one to eight babies. Compare this to a rabbit’s gestation period of 30 days. Also, the typical litter of a rabbit contains four to twelve bunnies.

Female black-tailed jackrabbits have their young in a shallow depression on a stretch of ground. They don’t create a nest. Newborns weigh just a few ounces. A black-tailed jackrabbit’s babies are called leverets. They are born with a thin layer of fur and their eyes are open. The mother jackrabbit nurses her newborn leverets but leaves them to live independently within two weeks of birth.

The lifespan of the black-tailed jackrabbit is five to eight years. These hares are vulnerable to an infection called Tularemia. It can kill a hare and can be transmitted to humans via a tick or an animal bite.

Population

The population of the black-tailed jackrabbit is unknown but listed as decreasing. However, these hares have a conservation status of Least Concern.