Rabbits in South Orange

The eastern cottontail rabbit weighs between 2-4 pounds. They are brown, tan, or gray in color with a white, fluffy tail. They have pretty long ears, but the ears are not as long as the ears of hares. Their back legs are long and designed for jumping and the young are hairless. The young of hares have fur, and their ears are much longer and larger than those of rabbits and are black at the tip.

The primary food source of rabbits is plant-based material (bark, twigs, leaves, seeds, fruits, and vegetables), though they have been known to eat arthropods (insects and related species) on occasion. In colder weather, they will eat a wider variety of food due to the lack of available resources.

Rabbit Habitat

Hares and rabbits can both be found in North America. Rabbits prefer to live near open, abandoned fields that have tall grass and plenty of foliage on the outskirts for protection. A major part of a rabbit’s habitat is having plenty of brush to escape into when predators come around. They can also be observed in forests or on farmland that meets their basic needs. Their nests are ground burrows (often built by other animals) in grassy fields, thickets, or along the edge of the forest. The inside is lined with grass, weeds, and/or fur. Hares do not dig or live in burrows underground but instead spend their whole lives living above ground.

Rabbit Habits, Threats or Dangers

As you may have guessed, rabbits are agricultural pests due to their diet. When food is scarce, or when living in close proximity to humans, rabbits can destroy gardens, damage lawns, and encourage predator species, like bobcats or foxes, to come around. If you are having a problem with rabbits on your property, always contact your local wildlife control experts.