Eastern Cottontail
The Eastern Cottontail is is the most common and widespread rabbit in North America, and occurs across the entire state of Tennessee.
Description: A medium-sized mammal with soft fur, large hind legs, long ears, and a fluffy tail. Grayish brown to reddish upperparts contrast with generally whitish fur underneath. The tail is brown, but white underneath; when the rabbit runs, it lifts the tail to show this white, which is where we get the common name.
Length: 14 - 19 inches
Tail: 1.5 - 3.0 inches
Ears: 2.0 - 3.0 inches
Weight: 2.0 - 3.3 pounds
Similar Species: Swamp rabbit is generally larger, and has shorter more rounded ears.
Habitat: Eastern Cottontails inhabit many areas such as farmlands, hedgerows, orchard, and backyards, particularly where shrubby forest borders meet open areas.
Diet: Almost entirely herbivorous. Approximately half of the rabbits diet consists of grasses in summer, and rounded out by both white and red clover, wild strawberries, and garden vegetables. In the winter, the diet changes to more woody plants, such as sumac, sassafras, flowering dogwood, and berries and waste corn when the ground is not snow-covered.
Breeding information: Breeding usually starts to occurs in late winter, and lasts through September. Females can have up to 7 litters a year, but usually average 3-4. With pregnancy lasting from 26-28 days, this means does are often nursing and pregnant by late May. Litters average 5 young, but can have as many as 12. Since sexual maturity occurs in 2 to 3 months, approximately 25% of young are born to juveniles.
Status in Tennessee: Common in preferred habitat and sometimes abundant in some locations.
Fun Facts: An interesting mating ritual occurs between breeding pairs, in which the doe is chased by the buck until she turns around to face him. She then spars with her front feet, until they crouch facing each other. At this point, one of the animals leaps 2 feet in the air; this process (usually at night) is repeated a number of times prior to copulation.
Best places to see in Tennessee: Most anywhere there are woods with adjoining fields or other open areas.
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.