It's the year of the rabbit. Oy! I've had such a difficult time figuring out whether this is a desert cottontail or a brush rabbit. Along with the black-tailed jack rabbit, all three rabbit species are found in this area. Again, it's my belief that many online sites have their IDs incorrectly labeled, including popular photo sites... and, admittedly, my own Nature ID blog. I'm making this ID as a desert cottontail based on its behavior and the tuft of white showing in the pic above. If I can recall correctly, brush rabbits don't seem to flash any white cottony tail before disappearing at places like Elkhorn Slough and Montaña De Oro State Park, where I've seen them in large numbers and browsing in the middle of trails. This one definitely had the white rear flag as it scampered away. In a funny way, it reminded me of white-tailed deer from Ohio. I'm wondering why animals flash something bright as they're fleeing a potential predator. Does anyone know about rabbits?
ps 09/01/12 - Thanks to another blog for alerting me to Don Roberson's rabbit page. I'm still a little confused as to how to distinguish between cottontail and brush, but I'm fairly sure of this ID.
ps 09/01/12 - Thanks to another blog for alerting me to Don Roberson's rabbit page. I'm still a little confused as to how to distinguish between cottontail and brush, but I'm fairly sure of this ID.
6 comments:
You're right. One would think they'd try to be as incognito as possible when fleeing. And surely the white flag of surrender wouldn't work well in his case. :)
Thanks, twg. I'm starting to expect a comment from you every time I post.
My guess is that momma and poppa rabbits raise that white tail up to draw predators away from the young and defenseless... deer too.
No idea about rabbits....all my mom told me is that I was never allowed to buy one as a pet because at the end of the week I would have a ton of them:)))
Dang that's CUTE!!!
Re tail flash: I know that in the case of deer it is said that it is a visible alarm signal to other family members.
Rabbits here in New Zealand are an imported pest. I have to completely fence them out and pay attention to rabbit proof gates etc.
Ours, presumably of English origin do the white tail flash and I alawys thought it odd.
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