Sylvilagus floridanus

Eastern cottontails are familiar rabbits with white stubby tails. Over their large range, they vary in both length , 395-477 mm (15-20 in), and weight, 0.8-1.5 kg (1.75-3.3 lbs). The coat is gray-brown to gray-black with a rufous patch on the nape of the neck. The range overlaps with several other species of cottontails and jackrabbits. Most of these species can be separated in the field, but familiarity with local species is important. The eastern cottontail is nearly indistinguishable from the New England cottontail (except by skull characteristics or genetic testing). It can be very difficult to distinguish between desert cottontails and eastern cottontails in the field where their ranges overlap (e.g., in eastern Colorado).

The range extends from southeastern Canada through the eastern U.S. and Central America to northern Columbia and Venezuela. Eastern cottontails have been introduced and are well established in many areas outside the native range.

The eastern cottontail uses a wide range of habitats from woodland and forest to desert and prairie. They have adapted well to humans, moving into abandoned and active crop land, suburbs, and open lots in urban areas.

Reproduction starts as early as February in southern areas and May in the north. The timing of first breeding may be synchronized throughout a population, but after that litters may appear at any time, depending on survival of previous litters. Young develop quickly and are weaned in about 3 weeks. Juveniles from early litters may become reproductively active by late summer.