Appalachian Cottontail

January 17, 2019

Appalachian cottontails live from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. They live 2,001 to 2,500 ft (610 to 762 meters) in elevation. The average length of a Appalachian cottontail is 16.1 inches (408 mm). They weigh 1.667-2.542 lbs.(756-1153 grams). Female Appalachian cottontails are usually bigger than the males. Most Appalachian cottontails live less than a year. An adult female can breed 3 or 4 times per season and they have only 3-4 babies per litter. They eat blackberry, smilax and mountain laurel. They will also eat bark and twigs from black cherry, red maple and aspen trees. There is some habitat loss so they get uncovered so then their predators, hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes and bobcats. Humans will also hunt them.