Cottontail or Domestic Rabbit?

Wildlife Rescue League's Rescue Report

Making the Proper Identification

Many experienced rehabilitators can probably tell the difference between cottontails and domestic rabbits. Those who have less experience with cottontails may need to develop more reliable skills. This article is intended to assist rehabilitators in proper identification of cottontails.

Unfortunately, some people abandon domestic rabbits outside when they are no longer wanted as pets. And some pet rabbits kept outside may escape their enclosures and become strays. In most of these cases, the pets are readily distinguishable from cottontails due to the many different color patterns and sizes of domestic rabbit breeds. In other cases, domestic rabbits may be virtually identical to cottontails in size and color and are distnguishable only by subtle physical and behavioral characteristics. In addition, a cottontail kept as a pet may exhibit some behavior consistent with domestic rabbits. All of these factors make proper identification difficult. Consider the following case studies:

Case No. 1:

A homeowner captures a cottontail that had been loitering in the yard and takes it to the family veterinarian. Declaring the rabbit healthy and uninjured, the veterinarian refers it to a rehabilitator for release. All signs point to the rabbit being a "tame" cottontail.

Case No. 2:

A young couple encounters a friendly baby rabbit on a hiking trail. Believing the infant to be lost or abandoned, they adopt it as a housepet. After four months, they become concerned that their pet is still not "tame".

Case No. 3:

A woman rescues an apparently healthy juvenile cottontail that had been sitting in a relative's yard in another part of the state. She keeps it for a few days, feeding it and leaving it alone, then releases it in nearby woods. "We walked way into the woods -- at least 1/2 mile -- to release this rabbit," she explains, "and the next day, it came back!"

Discussion

The rabbit in the first case was actually a pet rabbit and was misidentified as a cottontail by the veterinarian and two rehabilitators (myself being one of them). On the verge of release in a remote area, the bunny was correctly identified as a pet by a more experienced rehabilitator who took only a few moments to recognize subtle, but distinguishing, physical characteristics. Consideration of the physical characteristics in addition to the bunny's friendly disposition were the keys to proper identification in this case.

There was little doubt in case no. 2 that the couple had mistakenly rescued a baby cottontail. Cottontail infants begin to explore outside the nest shortly after their eyes open (at 10 days of age). Because they are not yet old enough to have developed their natural fear of people and other animals, this "exploratory" period is a time when they are extremely vulnerable to animal attacks and human interference.

Case no. 3 is more difficult to resolve. Assured by the homeowner that the rabbit was indeed a cottontail, I advised her to simply leave it alone. In retrospect, I should have visited the site to see the animal for myself. Its behavior indicates that it may have been a domestic rabbit. Since the rabbit was removed from another part of the state, though, I wonder whether it may have been a cottontail whose disorientation at being released in a new environment may have led it to follow a scent or trail back to the rescuer's house. That scenario seems somewhat unlikely, especially when you consider that the rabbit was initially rescued without incident (in other words, it did not try to run away or struggle during the rescue as a healthy cottontail would do).

If you encounter a cottontail-or-domestic dilemma this year, here are some tips for making the right identification:

1. Do not rely entirely on the opinion of the homeowner or other rescuer. Even veterinarians and experienced rehabilitators can misidentify domestic rabbits as cottontails and vice versa. Visit the site to see for yourself. Avoid having the rescuer bring the animal to you; if it is a cottontail, you do not want to transport or relocate it unnecessarily.
2. Note distinguishing physical characteristics. At first glance, the little cottontail in case no. 2 looked just like the domestic rabbit in case no. 1, but there were indeed some distinguishing features when I studied the two more closely. I had the advantage of actually seeing both rabbits within a few minutes of each other, and the differences were fairly apparent:

   face shape: the cottontail had a more "pointed" face, marked by bulging eyes and elongated nose; the face also appeared somewhat thin overall. The domestic had a much softer face, a more rounded nose and head, and large but soft, not bulging, eyes.

   ears: the cottontail's ears were very thin at the top, almost like membranes, and were wide, rounded, and opened flat at the top. The domestic's ears were thicker, almost velvet-like, tended to roll in a bit at the sides, and were not as wide and flat at the top.

   hop: I had an opportunity to observe the cottontail run and hop when he escaped inside my house during transfer from pet carrier to cage. For such a small rabbit, he had long back legs and large back feet. He appeared to hop on his toes and when running, his rear end was up in the air. He was also extremely fast and agile.

3. Pay careful attention to the rabbit's behavior; do not rely on color or appearance alone to make the identification. Some people may claim to have successfully tamed a cottontail, but it is generally agreed by most people who study cottontails that they can never be completely tamed. In any case, even a so-called "tame" cottontail can be rehabilitated and released. Case no. 2 is an excellent example. This cottontail had lived inside a loving home since it was about two weeks old, was well fed, and used a litterbox faithfully, but even after four months in that environment, it could not tolerate being touched or handled. These fear and panic or escape-type behaviors are classic cottontail responses to contact with animals and humans. Similar, though usually less pronounced, behavior may also be exhibited by domestic rabbits that have been poorly trained or abused.

4. Get opinions from other experienced rehabilitators if there is any doubt about the identification.

Correct identification of cottontails and domestic rabbits is important. Just as it can be a death sentence to keep a cottontail confined and inhumane to keep one as a pet, the domestic rabbit mistakenly released into the wild will soon succumb to starvation and exposure, disease, or attacks by humans or animals. There are several factors to consider in proper identification. If you feel at all uncomfortable or unsure making an identification, contact other rehabilitators for guidance. The many professionals affiliated with the Wildlife Rescue League are always eager to provide advice and assistance to their colleagues.