Desert Cottontail Rabbit

Description:

The desert cottontail is a member of the family Leporidae. Like all the cottontail rabbits, the Desert Cottontail has a rounded tail with white fur on the underside which is visible as it runs away. It is a light grayish-brown in colour, with almost white fur on the belly.

Habitat:

The desert cottontail is found throughout the western United States from eastern Montana to western Texas, and in northern and central Mexico. Westwards its range extends to central Nevada and southern California and Baja California. It is found at heights of up to 6500 ft. It is particularly associated with the dry near-desert grasslands of the American southwest, though it is also found in less arid habitats such as pinyon-juniper forest.

Notes:

I went bone hunting this afternoon. I was particularly looking to photograph prairie dog skulls but only found a couple cottontail skulls in the end. I never keep the prairie dog or cottontail skulls that I find because the animals in my area carry the bubonic plague and tularemia, which is transmittable to humans. Even though there is a slim chance I could contract anything from the bones, I haven't wanted to take a chance...yet...