Desert Cottontail

Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)

The Desert Cottontail, also known as Audobon's Cottontail, spends most of the day concealed in a shallow form and becomes most active after sunset. This wittle wabbit scratches a living throughout the central United States from eastern Montana to western Texas, and in northern Mexico. Throughout the weatward valleys its range extends to central Nevada and southern California and Baja California. Shrubbery, grassy grass, and other plant material such as fallen fruits and nuts, make up the bulk of its diet. It rarely drinks as it satiates itself from glistening dew and the water in the plants it consumes. Many desert animals prey mercilessly on cottontails, and sometimes-perhaps to better see its foes-this particular cottontail occasionally climbs trees. The cottontails traditional anti-predator behavior is to hightail it out of the way of harm in zig zags; it can reach speeds up to almost 20 mph!