Mammals crepuscular

Mountain Cottontail

Sylvilagus nuttallii

Master of the high-altitude thicket, the Mountain Cottontail is a charming and elusive neighbor of the Western wilds. Spot them by their signature rusty-orange napes and their lightning-fast evening sprints through the sagebrush.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 34–39 cm (13.5–15.5 in); Weight: 0.7–1.2 kg (1.5–2.6 lbs)

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Colors

Pale grayish-brown upperparts with a white belly; distinctive rusty-orange patch on the nape and reddish-brown legs; black-tipped ears.

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Key Features

Bright rusty-orange patch on the nape of the neck
Rounded ears with black tips and dense interior fur
Pale grayish-brown coat with stark white underside
Distinctive reddish-brown or 'rusty' wash on the legs

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern crepuscular

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Peak hours 5:30 AM - 8:30 AM, 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet A generalist herbivore that eats grasses and clover in summer, transitioning to sagebrush, juniper berries, bark, and twigs during the winter months.

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Habitat Mountainous slopes, coniferous forests, sagebrush plains, and suburban yards with thick cover.

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Behavior

Mountain Cottontails are the quintessential 'edge' dwellers of the American West. They are notoriously shy and spend the vast majority of their lives within a few hops of dense cover, such as sagebrush thickets, rock crevices, or heavy garden shrubbery. Unlike many other rabbit species, they are somewhat solitary and territorial, though you may see several individuals congregating near a particularly lush food source during the twilight hours.

Their primary defense mechanism is their incredible camouflage, followed by a high-speed, zigzagging escape run when a predator gets too close. Interestingly, while they are ground-dwellers, Mountain Cottontails have been observed occasionally scrambling up into the lower, sloping branches of junipers or thick shrubs to reach tender buds or escape rising water. In a backyard setting, they are creatures of habit, often emerging from the same hole in a fence or thicket at almost the exact same time every evening.

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Camera Tips

To successfully capture a Mountain Cottontail on your backyard camera, you need to think low. These rabbits are small in stature, so mounting your camera just 6 to 10 inches off the ground is ideal. Angle the lens slightly upward to capture their full profile rather than just their ears. The best locations are 'transition zones'—the places where your lawn meets a flower bed, a woodpile, or a line of shrubs. Look for 'rabbit runs,' which are subtle, flattened paths in the grass that they use daily.

Because Mountain Cottontails are most active during the low-light hours of dawn and dusk, camera settings are critical. Use a high-quality infrared (IR) flash to avoid startling them with white light, which might cause them to avoid the area in the future. Set your trigger speed to the fastest possible setting (0.3s or less if available), as these rabbits often move in quick, unpredictable hops. A 'burst mode' of 3-5 photos per trigger is highly recommended to ensure at least one shot captures the rabbit in a clear, stationary pose.

During the winter, you can dramatically increase your chances of a sighting by placing a 'lure' near a brush pile. While we don't recommend heavy feeding, a small handful of alfalfa hay or a few apple slices placed in front of the camera can encourage a rabbit to linger long enough for a great video. If you see tracks in the snow, follow them to find their 'forms'—the small depressions where they sit and hide—and place your camera nearby facing the sun for the best possible lighting during their morning sunning sessions.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Mountain Cottontail.

Desert Cottontail

The Desert Cottontail has much longer, more pointed ears that are sparsely furred on the inside, and it lacks the deep rusty-orange nape of the Mountain species.

Snowshoe Hare

Hares are significantly larger with much longer hind feet and ears; the Snowshoe Hare also turns completely white in the winter, whereas the Mountain Cottontail stays gray-brown.

Eastern Cottontail

Generally larger with a more distinct white spot on the forehead and less fur inside the ears; their ranges rarely overlap except in narrow transition zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mountain Cottontails are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk. This behavior helps them avoid both diurnal predators like hawks and nocturnal predators like owls.

The best way to attract them is by providing 'safe' habitat. Planting native grasses and maintaining dense shrubbery or a brush pile gives them the cover they need to feel secure. Avoid using chemical pesticides on your lawn, as they rely on grass and clover for food.

In the spring and summer, they eat a variety of green grasses, herbs, and garden vegetables. During the harsh winter months, they survive on more rugged fare, including the bark of trees, twigs, and sagebrush.

Yes, they are quite adaptable and frequently move into suburban areas that border canyons, forests, or open foothills, especially where there are plenty of ornamental shrubs for hiding.

Look at the ears and the legs. Mountain Cottontails have shorter, more rounded ears that are heavily furred on the inside. They also have a more pronounced rusty-orange color on their nape and legs compared to the paler Desert Cottontail.

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