White-sided Jackrabbit: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Rabbits and Hares · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. Fleeing, this hare flashes one white side, then the other, at the predator. It also leaps high, straight up, back legs stretched out.
2. White-sided jackrabbits are often seen in pairs. A male and female bond and stay within about 5 m of each other.
3. Its scientific name, callotis, comes from Greek words meaning beautiful ear.
4. It pulls up grass and chews it while sitting upright, keeping watch for predators as it eats.
5. Its shelter is a scraped hollow in the ground, fancier than most hares make: on average 37 cm long and 18 cm wide.

The quiz

1. What does the white-sided jackrabbit flash at predators as it runs?

• Its white sides (correct)
• Its red tongue
• Its orange feet
• A blue patch on its back

It shows one white side and then the other while escaping.

2. How close do a bonded pair of white-sided jackrabbits stay?

• About 5 km apart
• About 500 m apart
• About 50 m apart
• Within about 5 m (correct)

The pair stays within a radius of roughly 5 m.

3. What does the name callotis mean?

• Fast foot
• Beautiful ear (correct)
• White side
• Grass eater

It joins Greek words for beautiful and ear.

4. What does this hare do while it chews grass?

• Lies flat with eyes closed
• Hides in a deep burrow
• Sits upright watching for predators (correct)
• Floats in a pond

It eats while staying upright and scanning for danger.

5. How long is this hare's ground shelter on average?

• About 3 m
• About 37 cm (correct)
• About 1 m
• About 5 cm

Its forms average 37 cm long, larger and fancier than most hares'.

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