Swamp Rabbit: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Rabbits and Hares · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. The swamp rabbit is the biggest of all cottontails. Look at its back legs: they are orange behind, unlike the pale feet of its cousins.
2. Swamp rabbits hold territories. Each one marks its patch by rubbing objects with scent from glands near its chin.
3. Its escape trick: hop onto a log, run to the end, double back, then leap off the other side to confuse whoever is chasing it.
4. Swamp rabbits are chatty. They talk with squeaks, chirps, squeals and alarm calls.
5. It mostly feeds at night, but a rain shower can tempt it out to eat in daylight.

The quiz

1. What colour is the back of the swamp rabbit's hind legs?

• Blue
• Pure white
• Orange (correct)
• Striped black and white

Its hind legs are orange behind, unlike the eastern cottontail's pale feet.

2. How does the swamp rabbit mark its territory?

• By scratching tree bark
• By rubbing scent from its chin (correct)
• By building piles of stones
• By drumming on logs

It rubs objects with scent made by glands near the chin.

3. How does a swamp rabbit use a log to escape?

• It runs along it, doubles back and jumps off the other side (correct)
• It hides inside it until spring
• It pushes it into the water
• It gnaws through it

This back-and-forth trick confuses a pursuer.

4. Which sounds do swamp rabbits use to communicate?

• Only silence
• Deep roars
• Long howls
• Squeaks, chirps and squeals (correct)

They talk with squeaks, chirps, squeals and alert calls.

5. What can bring a swamp rabbit out to eat during the day?

• A full moon
• A rain shower (correct)
• A heatwave
• Snow

Though mostly active at night, it may come out to feed when it rains.

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