If you live in the suburbs or a rural area, there is a good chance that rabbits appear from time to time in your backyard. However, since four species of rabbits live in Georgia, which species of rabbit inhabits your yard? If I had to guess, I would say it is the eastern cottontail. Here’s why.
The Appalachian cottontail, eastern cottontail, marsh rabbit and swamp rabbit all occur in the state. However, the rabbit most often seen in Georgia backyards is the eastern cottontail.
Eastern cottontails are 14-17 inches long and can weigh from two to four pounds. One of the easiest ways to identify it is to look at the color of the nape of its neck. The eastern cottontail has a cinnamon-colored nape. None of the other species of rabbits that inhabit the state displays this characteristic.
Thanks for an interesting article, Terry. We rarely see rabbits in our yard anymore. When I was young there were a more common sight than today. Habitat depletion and predation are probably explanations for the fewer amounts seen, I guess.
Nudicale,
I am glad you liked the post. I agree with you were are definitely seeing fewer rabbits that we once did.
Terry
I live in Acworth, GA and have a cottontail that shows up in my backyard everyday. It has burrowed a small passage under my fence. After about a week straight of it showing up everyday, I placed a motion-activated camera outside and capture it arriving very early in the morning and after the sun has gone down. It’s definitely aware of me, as I am outside everyday, and have come within five or six feet of it a couple of times. It just hangs around and eats the grass. It’s cute, and I’m all for it.