What kind of rabbits live in Florida?
Two species of rabbits occur in Florida, the Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and the marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris).
What is a Florida marsh rabbit?
The marsh rabbit is found throughout Florida. It is distinguished from its cottontail cousin in another important way — it is a strong swimmer and is usually found close to water. In Florida, this habitat includes everything from fresh and brackish marshes to wet prairies and flooded agricultural fields.
How long do Florida rabbits live?
Wild rabbits have relatively short life spans (typically, less than two years), but they mature quickly and have short (30-day) gestation periods. Their mortality is based on food availability, predator presence, and weather stability.
Are marsh rabbit native to Florida?
Marsh rabbits are found on the coastal plains from Virginia to Alabama and throughout Florida, but they only live where there is water. In Florida, that could be a fresh- or saltwater marsh, wet prairie or a flooded field.
What eats rabbits in Florida?
So, too, are many of the marsh rabbit’s predators – owls, foxes, bobcats and alligators. Hurricanes and coastal flooding also take a significant toll on rabbit populations, particularly young rabbits and nestlings.
Are Florida rabbits good eating?
Even if they’re not removed, the rabbit meat is perfectly edible. Warbles don’t spread diseases to humans, and cooking kills them. Still, some hunters often discard any rabbits they shoot that are infected with warbles. Typically rabbits have fleas or ticks, both of which can pose a risk to humans.
What is the average lifespan of a marsh rabbit?
Marsh rabbits can live up to four years, but most do not live past one year.
What looks like a rabbit but isn t?
Viscachas or vizcachas (UK: /vɪˈskætʃəz/, US: /vɪˈskɑːtʃəz/) are rodents of two genera (Lagidium and Lagostomus) in the family Chinchillidae. They are native to South America and look similar—but are not closely related—to rabbits. The viscacha looks much like a rabbit due to convergent evolution.
Where do rabbits go during a hurricane?
Forest animals Falling debris like tree branches can crush them, as in the case of this rabbit caught in Hurricane Sandy. Forest animals can hold on to tree branches or forage in dens built in them.
What kind of rabbits live in the Florida Keys?
The Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, is found throughout Florida except in the Keys, coastal marshes, and dense forests. It is grayish brown with a white underside and brown throat. It is 12-20″ long. It is primarily nocturnal, resting inn a shallow depression in dense clumps of grass during the day.
How big is a short eared marsh rabbit?
Its length is about 17 inches (43cm) and it is a member of the cottontail family although the tail can be more of a dingy grey than white. Another standout difference when compared with other rabbits is that they have rather short ears, shorter than those of other cottontail species.
Where can you find a marsh rabbit in Florida?
The Florida marsh rabbit (S. p. paludicola), occupies the peninsular region of Florida, from south of the Florida Panhandle to the upper Keys. There is a region north of Miami along the east coast where this subspecies is not found.
What are the enemies of rabbits in Florida?
Enemies include hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, weasels and man. Marsh Rabbit- The Marsh Rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris, is found in freshwater and brackish marshes through out the state of Florida. The marsh rabbit moves about much more during daylight than the cottontail.