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Sylvilagus audubonii

(Baird, 1858)

Desert Cottontail

G5Secure Found in 122 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103423
Element CodeAMAEB01070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderLagomorpha
FamilyLeporidae
GenusSylvilagus
Other Common Names
desert cottontail (EN) Un Conejo (ES)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-11-05
Change Date1996-11-05
Range Extent Comments
Western U.S., from northern California northeastward to the Dakotas and southward to south-central Mexico.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Various habitats; dry uplands as well as low valleys and canyons. May inhabit open grasslands, brushlands, edges of foothill woodlands, willow thickets, sometimes in cultivated fields or under buildings. May occupy burrows of other species. Rests in shallow burrow, slight depression in ground surrounded vegetative cover, or in thick vegetation. Can swim; occasionally climbs low trees. Female constructs fur-lined nest, usually on ground in open habitat (Ingles 1965).

Ecology

Home range is up to about 6 ha, often much smaller. Density has been estimated at about 2-16 per ha in different areas. Mortality rates are high; few live longer than 1-2 years. In southwestern California, may be an effective disperser of seeds, including those of plants associated with vernal pools (Zedler and Black 1992).

Reproduction

Breeds throughout year or December-June in California, April-July or August in Colorado, January-August or September in Arizona). Gestation 26-30 days. Annually produces several litters of 1-5 young (average about 2.7-2.9 in Arizona, 3.6 in California). Young leave nest at 10-14 days (Chapman and Willner 1978).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralSavannaGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldDesertCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
ArizonaS5Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
Navajo NationS5Yes
NevadaS5Yes
TexasS5Yes
KansasS4Yes
South DakotaS5Yes
WyomingS5Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
MontanaS5Yes
New MexicoS5Yes
UtahS5Yes
NebraskaS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial development——High (continuing)
1.3 - Tourism & recreation areas——High (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture——High (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching——High (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridors——Insignificant/negligible or past
4.2 - Utility & service lines——Insignificant/negligible or past
5 - Biological resource use——High (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals——High (continuing)
7 - Natural system modifications——High (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppression——High (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases——High (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (122)
Arizona (23)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
Coconino RimKaibab National Forest7,213
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PicachoTonto National Forest4,969
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
Santa RitaCoronado National Forest6,078
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
California (58)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Lpoor CanyonLos Padres National Forest13,762
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
QuatalLos Padres National Forest7,253
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
Stanley MountainLos Padres National Forest14,674
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Sycamore SpringsSierra National Forest10,015
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Montana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
Nevada (4)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Stirling - JaybirdHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,468
New Mexico (14)
AreaForestAcres
Bull CanyonCarson National Forest11,512
Capitan MountainsLincoln National Forest14,069
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
North Dakota (3)
AreaForestAcres
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
Twin ButtesDakota Prairie Grasslands13,492
WannaganDakota Prairie Grasslands6,026
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (12)
AreaForestAcres
0401001Ashley National Forest11,705
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
AtchinsonDixie National Forest17,655
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
Capital ReefDixie National Forest763
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Joe LottFishlake National Forest19,826
MogotsuDixie National Forest16,762
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Stansbury MountainsWasatch-Cache National Forest39,696
Wayne WonderlandFishlake National Forest12,395
Wyoming (4)
AreaForestAcres
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
South ForkShoshone National Forest64,903
References (19)
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  2. American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2025. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.13) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10595931. Online. Available: https://www.mammaldiversity.org/
  3. Bradley, R.D., L.K. Ammerman, R.J. Baker, L.C. Bradley, J.A. Cook. R.C. Dowler, C. Jones, D.J. Schmidly, F.B. Stangl Jr., R.A. Van den Bussche and B. Würsig. 2014. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2014. Museum of Texas Tech University Occasional Papers 327:1-28. Available at: http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/publications/opapers/ops/OP327.pdf
  4. Caire, W., J. D. Tyler, B. P. Glass, and M. A. Mares. 1989. Mammals of Oklahoma. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. Oklahoma. 567 pp.
  5. Chapman, J. A. 1971. Orientation and homing of the brush rabbit (<i>Sylvilagus bachmani</i>). Journal of Mammalogy 52:686-699.
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  9. Fitch, H. S. 1947. Ecology of a cottontail rabbit (<i>Sylvilagus audobonii</i>) population in central California. California Fish and Game 33:159-184.
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  13. Jones, J. K., Jr., D. M. Armstrong, R. S. Hoffmann, and C. Jones. 1983. Mammals of the Northern Great Plains. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska.
  14. Mammalian Species, nos. 1-604. Published by the American Society of Mammalogists.
  15. Nowak, R. M. 1991. Walker's mammals of the world. Fifth edition. Vols. I and II. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, Baltimore. 1629 pp.
  16. Shields, P. W. 1960. Movement patterns of brush rabbits in northwestern California. Journal of Wildlife Management 24:381-386.
  17. Trent, T.T. and O.S. Rongstad. 1974. Home range and survival of cottontail rabbits in southwestern Wisconsin. Journal of Wildlife Management 38:459-472.
  18. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
  19. Zedler, P. H., and C. Black. 1992. Seed dispersal by a generalized herbivore: rabbits as dispersal vectors in a semiarid California vernal pool landscape. Am. Midl. Nat. 128:1-10.