By Rick LoBello, Board Member
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Of the thirty different mammal species known to the Chihuahuan Desert eco-region here in the Franklin Mountains and surrounding lower elevations, two of the more common species are members of the Order Lagomorpha – Hares (jackrabbits) and Rabbits. The smallest of the two is the desert cottontail. Related to the domestic rabbit, desert cottontails are not always easily seen, but they are out there normally hiding in heavy vegetation during the day and being most active at dawn and dusk.
I almost always find one along the nature trail to the bird blind at the Tom May section of Franklin Mountains State Park, and often see them along the hillsides of the Westside Community Park. Chances are pretty good that if you are seeing foxes, coyotes and hawks in your neighborhood there probably are desert cottontails living nearby, since they are preyed upon by many wild predators. Not only are desert cottontails eaten by mammal and bird predators, but they are also preyed upon by snakes that will occasionally find a cotton tail nest under a desert shrub and eat some or all of the young.
Often called Audubon’s cottontail these small mammals reach 14-16 inches in length and have long hind legs and a short conspicuous tail. They are mottled grayish brown in color with long ears that help them dissipate heat in the hot desert environment. Desert cottontails have two to six young per litter and can have more than one litter per year.
In addition to predators cottontail numbers are impacted by habitat loss from urban sprawl, drought and disease. Earlier this year Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) received test results from late in 2022 confirming diagnoses of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease virus 2 (RHDV2) in two desert cottontail rabbits and one black-tailed jackrabbit in El Paso County.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect both domestic and wild rabbit species, including hares, jackrabbits and cottontails. This disease is nearly always fatal and primarily affects adult rabbits. The viral agent, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), is a calicivirus with two strains, RHDV1 and RHDV2, both reported in North America in recent years. RHDV appears only to affect rabbit species (lagomorphs). It is not known to affect humans, livestock or pets other than rabbits. However, pets should not be allowed to consume dead animal carcasses.
Photos
Top – Sharon Suzuki-Martinez, Wikimedia Creative Commons
2nd from Top – Tom Blackwell, Wikimedia Creative Commons
3rd from Top – rbaire, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Bottom – James Marvin Phelps, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition 