Black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) are common in the western United States and northern Mexico. Early settlers called them "jackass rabbits" because their ears resembled those of a donkey (jackass). This name was later shortened to jackrabbit. There are four species of jackrabbit in North America. The most common, and the one seen most often in southeastern Idaho, is the black-tailed jackrabbit.Despite the name, the jackrabbit is actually not a rabbit, but a hare. The largest of the North American hares, black-tailed jackrabbits measure 18-24 inches long and their ears are 5-7 inches long. Black-tailed jackrabbits, like all hares, are larger and more slender than rabbits, have longer ears and legs, and their young, called leverets, are born with fur and with their eyes open.
Ten Facts about Black-tailed Jackrabbit
- The black tailed jackrabbit is 18 ½ to 25 inches long with a 2 to 4 ¼ inch long tail and weighs 3 ¼ to 7 ¾ pounds.
- It is one of the fastest lagomorphs (rabbits, hares and pikas) with the ability to run 35 miles per hour.
- It can detect very faint noises which lets it be aware of approaching predators early.
- Gestation or pregnancy lasts from 41 to 47 days. A litter contains up to 8 offspring, usually only 2 or 3.
- The female only nurses its young for 2 to 3 days and then never sees her young again.
- The lifespan of the species in captivity is 5 to 6 years but the lifespan in the wild is most likely quite smaller due to predation, disease and other factors.
- The black tailed jackrabbit prefers to feed on succulent grasses and herbs. In the winter or during drought this hare will survive by merely nibbling on woody twigs.
- The black tailed jackrabbit is located from western, central and southern United States of America to northern Mexico. It is found inhabiting areas of desert scrubland, prairies, farmlands and dunes.
- When trying to evade predators, a jackrabbit moves in a zig-zag pattern.
- Hawks, Coyotes and badgers are among the predators that regularly hunt jackrabbits.
