What kind of rabbits live in Louisiana?

What kind of rabbits live in Louisiana?

Two species of rabbits roam the woods of Louisiana: eastern cottontails and swamp rabbits. The differences between the two have to do mostly with where they live.

What’s the difference between a cottontail and a swamp rabbit?

The swamp rabbit is the largest member of the cottontail genus. Although it is larger in overall size than other cottontails, it has smaller and rounder ears and coarser fur with a more yellow cast. The rabbits are often found near water and in the cover of thickets, stumps, or fallen trees.

How big is a swamp rabbit?

4.7 lbsAdult
Swamp rabbit/Mass

Where do swamp rabbits sleep?

With the exception of hares and cottontails, who live mainly above ground, wild rabbits sleep together in burrows. A network of burrows is called is warren, which can be up to 10 feet deep and have numerous sleeping and nesting areas as well as multiple exit holes.

Where are rabbits found in Louisiana?

Louisiana’s swamp rabbits can be found in good numbers in the floodplains of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers, bottomland swamp fringes and even in marshes.

What does a cottontail look like?

The eastern cottontail is chunky, red-brown or gray-brown in appearance, with large hind feet, long ears, and a short, fluffy white tail. Its underside fur is white. There is a rusty patch on the tail. Its appearance differs from that of a hare in that it has a brownish-gray coloring around the head and neck.

How fast is a swamp rabbit?

If a predator has been seen, then swamp rabbits can run as fast as 45 km per hour generally in vague zig-zag outlines. These rabbits are found all over the south of Central America and on the coastal regions of Gulf.

What do wild swamp rabbits eat?

Swamp rabbits eat many species of grasses, sedges and herbs growing in moist soil areas plus succulent aquatic plants and the stems of cane. In winter, they feed on twigs and bark of woody plants such as blackberry, hazelnut, deciduous holly and spicebush.

Is a swamp rabbit a hare?

The swamp rabbit or swamp hare (Sylvilagus aquaticus) are large cottontail rabbits often spotted in parts of the United States like South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama. During breeding season, they make nests out of rabbit hair and grasses. Swamp rabbits have black brown fur that covers their head and body.

Is it legal to hunt rabbit at night in Louisiana?

Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law a new regulation (Act 175 of the 2020 regular legislative session) in June, which allows for the nighttime take of these animals without a permit. However, hunters are required to contact that parish’s sheriff office within 24 hours prior of attempted nighttime take.

Can domestic rabbits breed with cottontails?

So the answer is technically yes, it could result in hybrid babies, though it’s very extremely unlikely any offspring will survive.

Where are Swamp Rabbits found in the United States?

Swamp rabbits are found in much of the south-central United States and along the Gulf coast. They are most abundant in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, but also occur in South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia.

How big is a swamp rabbit in inches?

They are nocturnal foraging animals. Among all the cottontail rabbits, the swamp rabbit is the largest one. The weight of a female Swamp rabbit is 57.94 – 93.91 oz (1646 – 1668 grams) and males weigh up to 65.64 – 90.08 oz (1861 – 2554 g). The total length is 17.8 – 21.73 inches (452 – 552 mm).

Are there any squirrels or rabbits in Louisiana?

It’s relatively inexpensive and, in the case of squirrel and rabbit, the species are abundant with plenty of hunting opportunities on public land. In Louisiana, there are two species of squirrel (gray and fox squirrels) and two species of rabbit (eastern cottontails and swamp rabbits).

When does a swamp rabbit reach sexual maturity?

Swamp rabbits reach sexual maturity after 23 weeks. Most females will have two to three litters per year. Few studies have been done to examine the lifespan of the swamp rabbit, but it is estimated they live an average of 1.8 years and may live up to nine years.