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Montana Animal Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Mountain Cottontail - Sylvilagus nuttallii

  • Mountain Cottontail
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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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General Distribution
Montana Range



Western Hemisphere Range

 


Summary of Observations Submitted for Montana
Number of Observations: 188

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Relative Density

Recency

 

(Records associated with a range of dates are excluded from time charts)



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 February 9, 2010, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_AMAEB01060.aspx
 
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