The Life Cycle of Jackrabbits

Jackrabbits are not actually rabbits. They are, in fact, hares that are larger and have bigger ears than the average rabbit. These large ears earned them the name jackass rabbit which was later shortened to jackrabbit. Five different species of jackrabbit are found in the U.S. and, like their rabbit cousins, they are prolific breeders and sometimes viewed as pests.

  1. Black Jackrabbit

    • The black jackrabbit is one of the smaller species and is found in southern California and Mexico. It breeds during the milder months of the year, from January to August, producing up to three litters a season. Pregnancies last 41 to 43 days before three to four offspring are born. The babies are born with fur and open eyes and start moving around soon after birth. The mother cares for the young only for a few days before abandoning them to take care of themselves.

    White-Tailed Jackrabbit

    • The white-tailed jackrabbit is native to the northern central U.S. and south central Canada. Breeding season for the species runs from February to July each year and up to four litters are possible per season. The gestation period is 36 to 43 days with between one and 11 offspring in a litter. Babies are born fully furred with eyes open and can move around within half an hour. The mother cares for the young for about a month before leaving them on their own.

    White-Sided Jackrabbit

    • The white-sided jackrabbit is found in southern New Mexico and Mexico. The breeding season lasts around 18 months, from April to August, with multiple litters possible each season. Between two to four offspring are produced per litter and are well formed at birth with fur and open eyes. The babies mature quickly and are usually ready to breed themselves by the next season.

    Black-Tailed Jackrabbit

    • The black-tailed jackrabbit is one of the larger species and is found in the western U.S. Breeding season extends from December to August, depending on the region, with several litters possible each year. The average pregnancy ranges from 41 to 47 days with one to six offspring per litter. The young are born well developed and are weaned from their mother by 21 days old and sexually mature within 243 days.

    Antelope Jackrabbit

    • The antelope jackrabbit is the largest of the jackrabbit species and is found in the western and central U.S. The mating season runs from December through to September with up to four litters produced in a season. The gestation period lasts around 42 days with one to five offspring to a litter. Weaning takes just a few days; the young are quickly independent but may remain near their mother for a few months, making up a small family group.