What Type of Wild Rabbits Are in Maryland?

Maryland is home to numerous small mammal species, including two varieties of wild rabbit. Both are types of cottontail, the eastern and Appalachian varieties. Cottontail rabbits are often hunted for meat and skins. Rabbits are considered pests to gardeners and farmers because they cause damage to plants and crops.

  1. Description

    • The eastern cottontail grows to between 15 inches and 18 inches in length and up to 54 oz. in weight. It is brownish-gray in color with a white belly and often a small white patch on the forehead. The Appalachian cottontail is almost identical, just a little smaller. It grows to around 15 inches in length and just over 2 lbs. in weight. The Appalachian cottontail's ears are also shorter and more round, with black trim, and it has a black spot instead of a white one on top of the head.

    Habitat and Range

    • The eastern cottontail is common throughout the eastern U.S., including Maryland. It is an adaptable species that lives in a range of habitats including deserts, woodlands and swamps. It does not dig burrows, but shelters in hollows beneath trees and logs as well as in thick shrubs during the day before coming out at night to feed. The Appalachian cottontail is found in a small region of the southeastern U.S. that includes the Appalachian mountains. It is only found in a small area of northern Maryland and is less common than the eastern variety. It prefers mountainous habitats above 2,500 feet.

    Diet and Predators

    • Both types of cottontail are fully vegetarian, feeding on a variety of grasses, leaves and twigs. The types of vegetation eaten vary by the season and availability. The digestive systems in both rabbits are poor which means they often have to eat their own feces to gain nutrients lost on the first pass through. Other than being hunted by humans for food, a range of wild animals also prey on both species. Coyotes, foxes, owls and hawks all hunt rabbits regularly.

    Life Cycle

    • The eastern and Appalachian cottontails are both solitary animals, coming together only during breeding season. In both species, the breeding season starts around February and ends around September or October. About three litters can be produced each season by both species with an average of three to five offspring per litter. Pregnancies last a little less than a month and the offspring are old enough to look after themselves after three to five weeks. Both species reach sexual maturity after two to three months. Because of predation and hunting, both species have short life expectancies between one to three years.