Perhaps the most distinctive difference between rabbits and hares are their sizes. Our resident hare, the Black-tailed Jackrabbit, is larger (body length: 24 inches) than either cottontail rabbit ...

Despite their being fewer rabbits and hares today, they are not at risk of disappearing like the legendary jack-a-lope. Researchers have yet to find a primary reason for the regional decline.

Seeing five white-tailed rabbits that evening was a real treat. The white-tailed's range is extensive, but there are other jackrabbits found in the U.S. as well, including one called the black-tailed.

In September, volunteers planted 700 native plants on Cutts Island in Kittery as part of the refuge's program to restore New England cottontail habitat. It's been a 10-year process.

The Appalachian cottontail is listed as a “species of concern” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as a “rare species” and “species of greatest conservation need” by the NCWRC.

Rabbits are running rampant in the Boston area this spring, as gardeners know all too well. They may look cuddly, but the long-eared interlopers can be serious troublemakers.

More information about the Eastern cottontail rabbit can be found on ODNR’s website. Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com, or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In Michigan, cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares can be hunted as part of small game season from Sept. 15 to March 31. There is a daily limit of five and a possession limit of 10.

Eastern cottontail rabbit populations have been increasing in central Ohio for the past 10 years. The summer of 2024 saw the highest recorded number of rabbits in Ohio, roughly triple the counts ...