Swamp Rabbits, Sylvilagus aquaticus
The Swamp Rabbit is generally found near water, as its name suggests, and is an excellent swimmer. It occurs in western Tennessee and some parts of middle Tennessee. It is the largest cottontail in the southeast and it is also known as a "cane-cutter."
Description: A medium-sized mammal with soft fur, large hind legs, rounded ears, and a fluffy white tail. The short, coarse fur is brownish-gray, often with a yellowish hue, mottled with black. It is white underneath, except for the buffy gray chest. The back of the neck is rust-colored and the hind feet are rusty brown on top, with large toenails.
Length: 16 - 22 inches
Tail: 1.6 - 3.0 inches
Ears: 2.5 - 3.8 inches
Weight: 2.5 - 6.0 pounds
Similar Species: Eastern cottontail and Appalachian cottontails are generally smaller, with proportionately longer, pointier ears, less black mottling in back fur, and whitish fur atop the hind feet.
Habitat: Always occurs near water; usually in swampy lowlands, wetlands, marshes, cypress swamps, or canebrakes.
Diet: Mainly herbivorous, feeding almost entirely at night on sedges, grasses, aquatic plants and herbs. They feed on more woody vegetation such as twigs, tree seedlings, and blackberry during winter months.
Breeding information: Breeding mainly occurs from February through July, rarely into August and September. Up to 5 litters are produced annually, each averaging 3 to 4 young. Gestation averages 38 days. The young are born well furred, but blind. The mother nurses the young even after they leave the nest (12-15 days).
Status in Tennessee: Swamp Rabbits are not considered threatened in Tennessee, and are sometimes common in suitable habitat.
Fun Facts:
•When threatened, Swamp Rabbits will dash for the nearest body of water, dive in, and only leave their noses visible.
•When caught in flooded forests with no dry ground available, they will sit on floating logs and trees and wait for floodwaters to recede. They will swim to other logs and feed, but can be approached closely in kayaks or canoes when stranded on floating logs.
Best places to see in Tennessee: West Tennessee in lowland and cypress swamps, and along river banks and tributaries of
the Mississippi river.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
What is Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease?
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an emerging wildlife disease caused by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2). The disease is highly infectious and has a high mortality rate. RHDV2 affects lagomorphs, members of the Order Lagomorpha, which includes domestic and wild rabbits, pikas, and hares. Susceptible native Tennessee wildlife species include the Eastern Cottontail, Appalachian Cottontail, and Swamp Rabbit. Currently, RHDV2 has not been documented to affect humans or any other animal species.
RHDV2 has an incubation period of 3-9 days. It attacks the liver cells and causes hepatitis. Wild rabbits infected with RHDV2 are often found dead with bleeding from the nose and mouth. RHD usually results in death within 4-6 days after exposure, and often the only sign of the disease is sudden death. Infected animals that live longer or survive the disease may develop respiratory and neurological symptoms, fever, lethargy, and a decreased appetite and can shed the virus for 30 days.
Caution should be taken when handling rabbits that are suspected to have died from RHD, as the clinical signs are the same as tularemia (rabbit fever), which can cause disease in people.
How is RHDV2 Spread?
RHDV2 can be found in feces, urine, and respiratory secretions of infected animals and can be passed to uninfected animals either through direct or indirect contact. The virus can survive in the environment for 3-4 months and can be passed indirectly to uninfected animals through contaminated food, bedding, water, and carcasses. Scavengers, like birds or insects, may act as vectors and transmit the virus to new areas. People may also unintentionally spread the virus on their hands, clothes, and shoes, or by moving live or dead rabbits.
Distribution of RHDV2 Outbreak in the US RHDV2 was first detected in France in 2010 and was found in North America in a wild rabbit in April 2020. It has since been confirmed in wild lagomorphs and/or domestic rabbits in 17 states. A stable-endemic area of RHDV2 exists in Texas and much of the contiguous western United States. In these states, RHDV2 has been documented in domestic rabbits and wild lagomorphs. Outside of the endemic area, domestic cases have been confirmed in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Minnesota, and South Dakota. In January of 2022, RHDV2 was detected in two domestic rabbits in East Tennessee. Although RHDV2 has not yet been found in Tennessee’s wild rabbit populations, the virus is still of concern due to its high infectivity and mortality rates.
The USDA conducted genetic sequencing of RHDV2 in domestic rabbits in Florida and Georgia and found the viruses may be connected to the western outbreak rather than from new introductions. This suggests a risk of movement of RHDV2 across the landscape. To view an interactive map of the current outbreak, visit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.
Preventative Measures
The following preventative measures are recommended for hunters and rabbit owners to limit exposure and spread of RHDV2:
• Avoid harvesting rabbits that appear sick.
• When processing rabbit, wear disposable gloves.
• Disinfect equipment and wash hands.
• Prepare meat to an internal temperature of at least 165°F.
• Bury rabbit remains to discourage scavenging. Rabbit Owners
• Keep rabbits indoors or keep rabbit enclosures raised and off the ground.
• Wash hands, clothes, and shoes before and after contact with domestic rabbits.
• Do not handle dead or wild rabbits.
• Quarantine new domestic rabbits for at least 30 days from other animals.
• Notify the State Veterinarian’s office if you experience sudden deaths or high mortality in your rabbitry at (615) 837-5120.
RHDV2 Vaccine
A vaccine for RHDV2 to be used in domestic rabbits is now available in over 40 states including Tennessee. The vaccine was produced by Medgene Labs and was granted Emergency Use Authorization by the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics in October of 2021. The vaccine has been effective in preventing severe and fatal disease from RHDV2 infection in domestic rabbits, but it is meant as a supplement to the above preventative measures. If you find dead wild rabbits, contact your nearest Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regional office.