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Desert Cottontail - Sylvilagus audubonii

  • Desert Cottontail--With sagebrush and prickly pear in background
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Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 3
 

General Description
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Distribution
Montana Range




Observations in Montana: 159

Montana Counties
Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Yellowstone



Migration
Non-migratory.

Habitat
Arid grasslands and sagebrush areas. In badlands and sagebrush coulees. Nests are pear-shaped excavations in the ground, cavity lined with vegetation and fur.

Ecology
In Central and Eastern MT sympatric with MT Cottontail which uses riparian. In SW MT, S. audubonii is not present and S. idahoensis and S. nuttallii are sympatric on its typical habitat.

Reproductive Characteristics
Circi-annual breeding in warmer climates, probably breeds Apr-Jul in Montana. Ave. 2.6-3.6 young/litter. 5 litters/ year in AZ, probably less in MT. Sexual maturity as early as day 80. (A78CHA01).

Citations & Sources
Additional Sources of Information Related to "Mammals"
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Citation for data on this website:
Desert Cottontail — Sylvilagus audubonii.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on July 4, 2009, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_AMAEB01070.aspx
 
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