Mountain Cottontail
Sylvilagus nuttallii
Adult mountain cottontails live in dry shrublands, sagebrush flats, pinyon-juniper edges, and rocky foothills across western North America. They feed mainly on grasses and leafy plants in warmer months, switching to bark, twigs, and woody browse when snow or drought limits fresh growth. Rather than digging deep warrens, they usually rest in shallow forms under vegetation and escape predators with sudden bursts of speed and erratic turns. A loud hind-foot thump can warn of danger before the rabbit bolts for cover.
- Type
- Swift
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- Mountain Cottontail Kit
- Mountain Cottontail Juvenile
- Mountain Cottontail