Types of Rabbits in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is home to three main rabbit species: the widespread Eastern Cottontail, the rarer New England Cottontail, and the winter-ready Snowshoe Hare. Start your identification by noting the tail color and ear length. The Eastern Cottontail is the one you'll most likely see in backyards and fields.
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Massachusetts is home to three main rabbit species: the widespread Eastern Cottontail, the rarer New England Cottontail, and the winter-ready Snowshoe Hare. Start your identification by noting the tail color and ear length. The Eastern Cottontail is the one you'll most likely see in backyards and fields.
What Are the Most Common Rabbit Species in Massachusetts?
You will most likely encounter three rabbit species in Massachusetts. The Eastern Cottontail (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) is the most widespread and often seen in suburban areas. The New England Cottontail (*Sylvilagus transitionalis*) is a native species that prefers young forest habitat. The Snowshoe Hare (*Lepus americanus*) lives in the western parts of the state and turns white in winter. For more on their habitats, check outrabbits in Massachusetts.
How Can You Tell an Eastern Cottontail from a New England Cottontail?
The easiest way to separate these two is by looking at the tail and ears. Eastern Cottontails have a bright white tail that is very visible when they run, while New England Cottontails have a grayish underside on the tail. Also, Eastern Cottontails often have a black patch between the ears, which New England Cottontails lack. If you spot a rabbit darting across a field with a flashing white tail, it is almost certainly an Eastern Cottontail.
Where and When to Spot Each Type of Rabbit?
Eastern Cottontails are active year-round and can be seen at dawn and dusk in fields, lawns, and forest edges. New England Cottontails stick to dense thickets and young forests with plenty of cover, making them harder to spot. Snowshoe Hares are found in the higher elevations of western Massachusetts, especially in areas with coniferous forests. Your best odds for seeing any rabbit are during the warmer months when vegetation is abundant. Visit theMassachusetts wildlife hubfor more spotting tips.
What Does the Eastern Cottontail Look Like?
The Eastern Cottontail is medium-sized, about 15-18 inches long, with reddish-brown fur and a distinctive white fluffy tail. It has large brown eyes and long ears, often with a black tip. Its belly is white, and it has a light-colored ring around the eye.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
What Does the New England Cottontail Look Like?
The New England Cottontail is smaller and darker than the Eastern Cottontail, with a brownish-gray coat and no white tail flash. Its ears are shorter and lack the black tips. A key field mark is the black line on the outer edge of the ears. It also has a white belly but the tail is brownish above.
What Does the Snowshoe Hare Look Like?
The Snowshoe Hare is larger than the cottontails, with big hind feet that act like snowshoes. In summer it is brown with a white belly, but in winter it turns completely white except for the black ear tips. Its ears are shorter than a jackrabbit's but longer than a cottontail's.