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Wildlife Desert Cottontail Page
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Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
Habitat: They occur on grasslands on the eastern plains, especially in prairie dog colonies where burrows provide excellent cover. The species inhabits a variety of other situations including montane shrublands, riparian lands, semidesert shrublands, piņon-juniper woodlands, and various woodland-edge habitats in Colorado. It can exist in areas with minimal vegetation provided that adequate cover is present in the form of burrows, scattered trees and shrubs, or crevices and spaces under rocks.
Diet: Desert cottontails forage mostly on forbs and grasses, which constitute 80 percent of the diet.
Description: A small rabbit, the desert cottontail has long hindlegs and long, sparsely furred ears. The dorsum is pale grayish brown with a few blackish hairs on the mid-dorsum. The sides are paler than the back. The underparts are white, except for an orangish brown spot on the throat extending to the chest between the front legs. Measurements are: total length 360-420 mm; length of tail 30-60 mm; length of hindfoot 70-90 mm; length of ear 60-90 mm; weight 700-1200 g.
Range in Colorado: Desert cottontails occur throughout eastern Colorado, up into the lower foothills of the Front Range. In western Colorado they are common in semidesert and montane shrublands, below about 2,135 m (7,000 ft).
Status: CDOW Small Game Mammal
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Species Occurrence Tool
(*) NDIS has no county occurrence data for fish at this time.
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