Hopping in to May!

Although spotted before Easter, this bunny isn’t in the neighborhood to paint brightly colored

eggs. Why? Because this fuzzy critter isn’t a bunny or rabbit at all. Known as the

Black-tailed jackrabbit, this mammal is the only native hare species to Texas! Found in

grasslands and deserts, this hare benefits the hill country ecosystem.

About Black-tailed jackrabbits:

Despite their name, Black-tailed jackrabbits are hares. You can tell them apart

because their ears are almost as long as their legs. Being most active at dusk and under

the shade of darkness, they can forage the desert and grassland shrubs with little detection. 

Hares do not build nests, instead, they rest in shallow indentations in the ground called ‘forms’ which are

often spread around a certain area. Black-tailed jackrabbits mate year-round and typically have

around eight babies per litter. Baby hares, also known as leverets, will be left behind in a form to

hide while the mother forages. Later on, the mother will come back at dawn or dusk to feed the

leverets. Unlike rabbits, hares prefer to live solitary lives and do not hide in brush like their cousins.

Instead, they prefer to graze in open land to spot predators before predators spot them.

Differences between Hares and Rabbits:

Although having the same leopardis family classification, hares and rabbits are not the same

animal! Biologically, hares have longer legs, ears, larger feet, and darker markings on their fur.

Hare cannot reproduce as quickly as rabbits and have a 42-day pregnancy in contrast to rabbits whose

pregnancy lasts only 30 days. Hares also prefer to live solitary lives and are only found in pairs when

it’s time to mate. Additionally, from the day they are born, hares are already fully formed and have open

eyes which make them precocial and fully developed. Rabbits, on the other hand, are born

hairless and have closed eyes which make them altricial.

How hares help the ecosystem:

In the wild, hares are an important food source for other animals in the United States. 

Often preyed upon by eagles, coyotes, owls, etc. these animals provide a nourishing source of

energy for predators. With their large litters and fast foraging it is important that these predators

find their meal in the Black-tailed jackrabbit. Additionally, jackrabbits are also helpful with

their foraging which keeps rapid plant and weed growth at bay and manageable lengths.

Although nationally labeled as a low conservation concern, some portions of the jackrabbit

population have declined due to the shrinking of their natural habitats due to development from

cities and towns, overgrazing from livestock, and wildfires. To help your local rabbits and hare

populations you can check your yard for rabbit burrows or hare forms before mowing, leave any

baby leverets alone even if by themselves, promote the growing of native plants and grass, and

assist any local conservations in your area. By keeping native populations safe, Blue Hole Park

can be healthier and stronger!

By: Kirsa Becker