When I looked in my back yard about 7:AM this morning a jack rabbit was comfortably "sitting " in the snow with new snow covering it's coat. It sat there all day and left around 6:00 PM. They are more active at night.
Now for those who don't know about jack rabbits, they are a hare that lives about 3 - 8 years in the wild, weighs from 6- 10 lb. (2.5-4 kg) 22in. -26 in (56-65cm) long and can hit speeds of 55 km/h. They are quite the sight when they put things in high gear. They soon disappear over the hill. They inhabit the central part of the north American plains.
They also change color with the seasonal changes so they are white in the winter and brown in the summer.
They are common here and get along in the city very well where there's lots of food they like. So they cross my yard often and stop to eat and many times spend the day in the shelter of my yard. There has been two litters of young born in my backyard and of course, I blogged about them.
The reason this animal caught my eye this morning is that it is changing color. Usually the color change is much later starting about mid March.
The hare knows something about the weather!
ReplyDeleteWell, at least the hare is equipped for any kind of weather.
DeleteGood to learn about your Jack Rabbits, they sound very similar to our Mountain Hares, which also change colour during the winter. This can't be a very useful adaptation these days when it snows so infrequently. On the black peat moorland where many of them live it makes them highly visible. The males and females of our hares are known respectively as Jacks and Jills.
ReplyDeletemale female here bucks and does!
DeleteAdorable bunny, it looks cold. Take care, have a great day!
ReplyDeleteYou make me ask a question. Have these hares ever froze to death?
DeleteIt is definitely beginning to change color. And it is a beautiful animal in any color!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by the early color change. Color change is controlled by light.
DeleteGreat pictures, but that looks like a cold rabbit!
ReplyDeleteThe sit like that in the summer too. They are in a defensive situation where they look like the snow or a rock in the summer.
DeleteAlthough we have lots of rabbits out in the country, I rarely see one in town down here. But our kind are only active during the day so perhaps that makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteThere's good population of jack rabbits in town here.
DeleteI love that you got to see that white-tailed jack rabbit. What a little beauty. Great photos. (From NewRobin13)
ReplyDeleteThey are common here. They like the open park space and our yards. I've seen them in the center of downtown.
Deleteearly spring!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe? Color change i controlled by the change in light.
DeleteA beautiful animal.
ReplyDeleteNice to have company drop by.
ReplyDeleteI have an eighteen inch brick wall around my front garden off the porch. Winter and summer, it is a safe place for the jacks to bed down. But, in the summer they finally get enough, leave and don't come back till winter. You see, the front garden is planted only in plants that bees love. Sometimes, it is hard to get out the front door ourselves because of the number of honey bees!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet they stick their butts up against the wall and have a good sleep. This is a defense mechanism . They don't have to worry about attack from behind.
DeleteI'm amazed you got those pictures before he ran away. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThey are unpredictable. This on stayed eleven hours.
DeleteA cold and tired looking bunny, nice shot!
ReplyDeleteThey have a very think coat and are comfortable.
DeleteThe jack rabbit is cute. My tulips are poking up about an inch. Is winter going to be over soon. Looks like JackRabbit's fur attire is a better predictor than the ground hog critter. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteThe change in the coat is controlled by the increasing light.
DeleteObviously rabbit fur is warm.
ReplyDeleteAt one time much rabbit fur was used for winter clothing.
DeleteWe just bought the grands warm bomber hats lined with rabbit fur. They come down over the back of their necks and snap beneath their chins keeping their little ears nice and toasty warm. They love them.
DeleteIt looks like he's settled in for the day/night.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! I've only seen jackrabbits a couple of times but you're right, they sure can run. That's a nice fat looking one in your photo. Or maybe he's just fluffy. The ones I saw were in the summer, standing on their back feet, and they were very slim.
ReplyDeleteWe had a brown creeper, a bird that migrates. Very early for this! Usually they appear in March!
ReplyDeletePretty amazing how animals can change color depending on the season. I guess chameleons can change color to match their environment. What’s more fascinating though, to me, is that the rabbit stayed in your yard, in one spot, all day long. Is that the next best thing to being in hibernation? Thanks for the pictures. Very interesting post.
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