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Antelope Jackrabbit
Mammals crepuscular

Antelope Jackrabbit

Lepus alleni

Meet the 'handsomest' hare of the Sonoran Desert, a long-eared marvel built for speed and heat. With its massive ears and white-flashed sides, the Antelope Jackrabbit is the ultimate backyard discovery for desert dwellers.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 20-23 inches (52-58 cm); Weight: 8-10 lbs (3.6-4.5 kg); Ear length: 5.5-6.7 inches (14-17 cm)

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Colors

Pale gray flanks, white underbelly, buff-orange throat and chest, and ears with distinct white margins.

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Key Features

  • Enormous ears with white-furred edges
  • Pale gray sides that 'flash' white when running
  • Buff or orange-toned throat and shoulders
  • Extremely long, powerful hind legs

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern crepuscular
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Peak hours 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM - 7:00 AM
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Season Year-round
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Diet Primarily herbivorous, consuming grasses, mesquite leaves, and forbs. In dry seasons, they rely heavily on succulents like prickly pear cactus for both food and hydration.
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Habitat Arid desert scrubland, grassy plains, and mesquite-dominated landscapes of the Sonoran Desert.

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Behavior

The Antelope Jackrabbit is a master of desert survival, known primarily for its incredible speed and heat-dissipating ears. Unlike many other desert mammals that retreat into burrows during the heat of the day, these hares often rest in 'forms'—shallow depressions under mesquite or desert shrubs. They use their massive ears as radiators, pumping blood through the thin skin to shed excess body heat into the air.

When startled, they exhibit a unique behavior where they 'flash' the white fur on their sides to warn others or confuse predators. They are generally solitary animals but can be found in small groups where food is abundant. Their movement is a marvel to watch; they can reach speeds of up to 45 mph and perform 'stotting' jumps, leaping several feet into the air to get a better view of their surroundings or to signal to a predator that they have been spotted and are too fast to catch.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Antelope Jackrabbit on your trail camera, placement is everything. These hares follow established 'runways' through the brush. Look for narrow, cleared paths in the desert sand or near the base of mesquite trees. Set your camera low to the ground—about 12 to 18 inches high—and angle it slightly upward. This 'hare's eye view' provides a dramatic perspective of their massive ears and powerful legs, which are their most iconic features.

Since these animals are most active during the twilight hours (crepuscular), ensure your camera has a fast trigger speed and high-quality infrared flash. A slow trigger will likely result in a blurry tail or an empty frame, as these jacks move with lightning speed. If you are using a video mode, set the clip length to at least 15-20 seconds to catch their cautious approach and potential 'stotting' behavior. Avoid using white flash cameras, as the sudden burst of light will likely spook them from the area for several days.

While we don't recommend standard 'bait,' providing a consistent water source like a shallow ground-level birdbath or a drip irrigation leak can be a magnet for them in the heat of June and July. If you have prickly pear in your yard, placing a camera nearby is a winning strategy. In terms of settings, use a 'Burst Mode' or 'Multi-Shot' setting; this increases your chances of getting a perfectly sharp image of the jackrabbit as it pauses to scan for predators. In the winter, focus your cameras on the sunny side of shrubs where they like to bask in the morning light.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Antelope Jackrabbit.

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Smaller with black-tipped ears and a dark stripe running down the tail; lacks the white-edged ears of the Antelope Jackrabbit.

Desert Cottontail

Much smaller with shorter ears and a rounded, cotton-like tail; lacks the long, lanky proportions of a jackrabbit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Antelope Jackrabbits are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk. They may also be seen at night (nocturnal), especially during full moons, but they typically rest in shaded 'forms' during the hottest part of the day.
The best way to attract them is by providing native desert vegetation like mesquite and prickly pear. They are also drawn to reliable water sources in the desert, so a ground-level water basin can be very effective. Avoid using chemical pesticides that might harm the plants they eat.
Their diet consists of desert grasses, forbs, and the leaves and pods of mesquite trees. They are famous for eating prickly pear pads, which provide them with essential moisture during long droughts without rain.
They are common in suburban areas that border the Sonoran Desert, such as the outskirts of Tucson and Phoenix. They prefer areas with some natural brush cover rather than manicured lawns.
The Antelope Jackrabbit is larger and has white edges on its ears, whereas the Black-tailed Jackrabbit has distinct black tips on its ears. Additionally, the Antelope Jackrabbit has much paler, grayer sides that it can 'flash' to appear white.

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