White-tailed Jackrabbits
Appearance
- Dark brown or greyish-brown on upper side and pale grey or white on underside.
- Long ears with black tips and white tail.
- They shed in the autumn and become white except for the ears.
- Long powerful hind legs.
- Body length is 56-65 cm (22-26 in), including a tail measuring 6.6-10.2 cm (4.0-5.5 in).
- Weight between 2.5-4.3 kg (5.5-9.5 lbs).
- Females are slightly larger than males.
- Snowshoe hares are slightly smaller and occasionally found in Saskatoon.
Behaviour and Habitat
- Native to the Prairie provinces and common in urban areas.
- Often described as nocturnal but can be seen at any time of day.
- They can have multiple litters per season consisting of 4-11 young.
- The young weigh about 100 g (3.5 oz). Small white-tailed jackrabbits can be mistaken for cottontails.
- Young start to forage around 2 weeks old and are weaned by 4 weeks.
- They are sexually mature around 7 or 8 months, but do not normally breed until a year after their birth.
- They have a number of predators in Saskatoon, including coyotes, foxes, badgers and birds of prey.
Diet
- Jackrabbits are herbivores that feed on grasses and other green plants.
- During the winter they feed on buds, twigs, and bark of trees and shrubs.
Co-existing with White-tailed Jackrabbits
Jackrabbits are well adapted to urban areas and are commonly found in Saskatoon. To prevent rabbits from entering your property consider these tips:
- Fix open gates or broken fences to prevent easy access to the property.
- Install smaller fences or barriers around gardens, shrubs and trees in open areas such as front yards.
- Consult home and garden centres for more advice on managing rabbits on private property.
- Young jackrabbits are often left unattended and mistakenly assumed to be abandoned. In most cases the mother will return and it’s best to leave the young rabbit undisturbed. If a rabbit is injured, trapped or diseased, call Urban Biological Services at 306-975-3300.