Plate No. 04Mammal · Hare
Species Profile
Black-Tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
Not really a rabbit at all — a hare. Long-limbed and built for speed, the black-tail bursts from cover in great zig-zag leaps, ears flashing pink in the high desert sun.
Habitat
Open grassland, sage flats, low scrub
Diet
Grasses, mesquite, cactus, sage
Size
4–8 lb · 18–25 in
Status
Common
§ Field Notes
Fun facts.
01
Can leap up to 20 feet in a single bound.
02
Sprints at 40 mph to outrun coyotes and hawks.
03
Ears act as radiators — releasing heat through dense blood vessels.
04
Babies (leverets) are born fully furred with eyes open.
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Coyote
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Black Bear