Types of Rabbits in Wisconsin: A Field Guide to Identification

1. What are the main types of rabbits in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin hosts two primary rabbit and hare species. The **Eastern Cottontail** (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) is the most common and found statewide. The **Snowshoe Hare** (*Lepus americanus*) lives mainly in the northern forests. A third species, the **White-tailed Jackrabbit**, is extremely rare and confined to small prairie remnants. For most sightings, you will encounter the Eastern Cottontail.

2. How can I tell an Eastern Cottontail from a Snowshoe Hare?

Size and color are the quickest clues. Eastern Cottontails are smaller (14-17 inches, 2-4 lbs) with brown fur year-round and a white tail. Snowshoe Hares are larger (17-20 inches, 3-5 lbs) and turn white in winter, brown in summer. Also look at the ears: cottontails have shorter, rounded ears; hares have longer, black-tipped ears. In winter, a white rabbit with black ear tips is a Snowshoe Hare.

See ourstate wildlife pagefor the next step.

3. Where and when am I most likely to see each species?

Eastern Cottontails favor edges - brushy fields, suburban yards, and forest clearings - across the entire state. They are active year-round, most at dawn and dusk. Snowshoe Hares stick to dense conifer or mixed forests in northern Wisconsin, especially around Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. You have the best odds of spotting them in early morning during winter, when their white coat stands out against snow.

4. What field signs help confirm rabbit activity in Wisconsin?

Look for pellet droppings (small, round, brown piles) and clipped twigs with a clean 45-degree angle. Rabbits leave narrow trails in snow or soft soil. In winter, you may see tracks with two large hind feet and two smaller front feet. Eastern Cottontail tracks are smaller than Snowshoe Hare tracks. Also check for daytime resting spots under brush piles or low evergreen branches.

See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.

5. How do I identify rabbit species by their vocalizations?

Rabbits are generally quiet, but they do make sounds. Eastern Cottontails let out a high-pitched squeal when frightened or caught. They also thump the ground with their hind feet as an alarm. Snowshoe Hares are mostly silent but may produce a low grunt. You are more likely to hear the cottontail's squeal during a predator encounter. Listen in brushy areas near dusk.

6. What conservation status do Wisconsin's rabbits have?

Both Eastern Cottontails and Snowshoe Hares are abundant and have stable populations. The Eastern Cottontail is classified as a game species with regulated hunting seasons. Snowshoe Hare populations fluctuate with the 10-year lynx cycle but remain secure. No rabbit species in Wisconsin is listed as threatened or endangered. You can enjoy observing them responsibly without concern for their numbers.