| Different Species of Rabbits and Hares |
By Hassan Travis-Frank
What are the different easter bunnies that are running free in their natural environment? Do they look exactly like the Easter Bunny we know on Easter holiday and Easter events? Here are the different species of rabbits and hares that are the Easter Bunny’s cousin! The most common rabbit is the Eastern cottontail rabbit, and they thrive in Canada, North America (including the United States), and South America. They are known for their fluffy white cotton ball tail. Eastern cottontails will come out at night to eat, but they will sometimes remain hidden during the daytime. When a predator is present, the cottontail will hop away really fast to avoid being eaten by a predator such as a hawk, fox, owl, or bobcat. Although they use their speed to run away from danger, but they will also blend into their environments by freezing and staying still so their enemies will not see them. The smallest species of rabbit in North America is the pygmy rabbit. They have short ears and small hind legs, and the color of their fur is gray. Of course, these little rabbits are cute and cuddly like our easter bunny mascot. Pygmy rabbits depend on sagebrush to keep them out of sight from predators, but it is also part of their natural diet. According to Nevada Department of Wildlife, “they depend on sagebrush not only for food, but also for cover.” In addition, pygmy rabbits are the only rabbits in Nevada that can dig their own burrows, according to Nevada Department of Wildlife. Sometimes they use dens that were made by other animals. Since they depend on sagebrush to hide in, pygmy rabbits can be found on tall dense sagebrush, and they will make their burrows.
Although pygmy rabbits are found in Nevada, they can also range in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, California, and Utah. Even though the pygmy rabbit does not have any easter eggs to hide, they are able to use their small body to hide under sagebrush. What about the Easter bunnies that adapted into cold habitats? The snowshoe hare has the adaptations and skills it needs to survive in the winter. These snow-running hares ranges from Canada and most parts of Alaska. Snowshoe hares are unique because their fur changes color in the season. During the spring and summer, the hare’s fur turns brown. This helps the hare blend in the ground without being spotted by predators. In the winter, the snowshoe hare’s fur change into white, and it provides the hare a warm winter coat. The snowshoe hare gets its name because its hind feet act like snowshoes. This gives the hare the ability to walk on the deep snow without sinking into it. They have the advantage run on the deep snow to get away from their natural enemy the Canada lynx, who also has paws that acts like snowshoes. The Easter bunny might need to bring a coat with him, but his snow running cousin sure loves the snow! Another Easter bunny that is fast as the snowshoe hare on the snow is the antelope jackrabbit. Despite its name jackrabbit, the antelope jackrabbit is actually a different type of hare. They are the biggest hares in North America, and are one of the fastest. Antelope jackrabbits are able to jump and leap quickly, just like an antelope. With their speed, they can try to outrun predators like coyotes. Antelope jackrabbits are known to make their nests above ground. Antelope jackrabbits are found in small southern areas in Arizona, including the Sonoran Desert. Additionally, they can be found on the western coast of Mexico. Like most hare species, antelope jackrabbits are solitary. With their long ears, it helps them to listen out for predators, and to listen in their surroundings. Antelope jackrabbits eat leaves, grasses, cacti, and shrubs. They will get water from the cacti they eat, instead of drinking water directly. According to the Animalia Bio website, “they do not drink water directly, but get it from what they eat, especially cacti stems.” We can even keep Easter bunnies as pets. There are known to be 49 different breeds of rabbit, and it was recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, according to Ohioline. Many of us adore rabbits because they are cute and cuddly, and every rabbit breed are unique. These are the kind of Easter bunnies we can keep as our furry buddies at our homes.
No matter where we are or where we go, we will still see both rabbits and hares. They are all unique Easter bunnies we see in their natural environment. We even keep Easter bunnies as domestic pets. Every Easter bunny is in a different places, different regions, and different habitats. We can discover more about the Easter Bunny’s incredible cousins!
