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Montana Animal Field Guide

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Mountain Cottontail - Sylvilagus nuttallii

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Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 2





 

General Description
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Distribution
Montana Range




Observations in Montana: 201

Montana Counties
Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone



Migration
Non-migratory

Habitat
Primarily dense shrubby undergroth, riparian areas in Cen- tral and Eastern MT. In mountains, it uses shrubby gulleys, and forest edges. (Hoffmann and Pattie 1968).

Food Habits
Sagebrush may be a principal food. Grasses also a preferred food. Juniper sometimes used. May prefer grasses in spring and summer (Chapman 1975).

Ecology
Western counterpart of the Eastern Cottontail (S. flori- danus). Not well described for Montana. Usually feeds in or near cover. (Chapman 1975).

Reproductive Characteristics
Breeds in spring and summer. Young reach full maturity within a year. Very high reproductive rate--reports vary: 2-4 or 5 litters/year. (Chapman 1975).

Citations & Sources
Additional Sources of Information Related to "Mammals"
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Citation for data on this website:
Mountain Cottontail — Sylvilagus nuttallii.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on July 3, 2009, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_AMAEB01060.aspx
 
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