Eastern cottontail

The eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, is the most widespread and abundant rabbit species in North America, ranging from southern Canada through most of the United States and into parts of Mexico, Central America and the northern regions of South America. It is known for its fluffy white tail, which resembles a cotton ball and gives the species its common name, and it typically inhabits open fields, meadows and brushy areas where it can find cover and food. It is a primarily herbivorous, crepuscular mammal that feeds on grasses, herbs, twigs and bark, and it is prey for foxes, hawks and owls. Because it adapts to human-altered landscapes such as suburban and agricultural areas, it has maintained stable population levels and is not considered threatened. Separate populations show markedly different genetic compositions, and the species expanded its range after the last glacial period.