Jackrabbit

Jackrabbit is a common name for several hare species in the genus Lepus, not true rabbits. In North America, the term typically refers to the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) and the white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii). Like other hares, jackrabbits have long ears and long hind legs and rely on speed rather than burrowing to avoid danger.

Jackrabbits are adapted for open habitats. They occur from southern Canada through the western United States into northern Mexico and are common in deserts, sagebrush country, prairies, and agricultural margins. They prefer areas with dense ground cover for concealment and nearby food.

Their diet is herbivorous, consisting mainly of grasses, forbs, leaves, and twigs. Reproduction can be rapid in favorable climates, with females producing several litters per year. Leverets are born with fur and open eyes in shallow ground scrapes and can move soon after birth. Jackrabbits are generally crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk, and they rely on speed to escape predators.

Predators include coyotes, bobcats, foxes, raptors, and owls. They also influence vegetation dynamics by feeding on and trampling grasses and forbs, thereby affecting plant community composition.

Conservation status is generally of least concern, with most populations widespread and abundant. Local declines can occur due to habitat loss, drought, and disease, but jackrabbits remain an important prey base for many predators and a notable component of their ecosystems.