Brush Rabbit

The Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani), or Western Brush Rabbit, is a species of cottontail rabbit found in western coastal regions of North America. It is also found from the Columbia River in Oregon to the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Its range extends as the eastern sides of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.

Brush rabbits inhabit dense, brushy cover, most commonly in shrubbery. They also inhabit oak and conifer habitats. They will live in brush or grassland, and form networks of runways through the vegetation. Brush rabbits do not dig their own burrows or dens. They use the burrows of other species, brush piles, or forms. In the San Francisco Bay Area, it was found that brush rabbits concentrate their activities at the edge of brush. They exhibit much less use of grassy areas. They do use the interior brush of the wilderness. It was also found that this might be a better environment for them. Studies done on the brush rabbit in Oregon also showed that they rarely left the brushy areas they inhabit. Use of habitat also probably is related to the breeding season.

The Brush Rabbit is smaller than many of the cottontails. The underside of its tail is grey rather than white (which may be why its common name does not include the word “cottontail”). The top of the brush rabbit’s fur varies from light brown to grey in color. The underside is usually always white. Adult rabbits measure anywhere from 10 to 14 inches long and rarely weigh over two pounds.

Mating in brush rabbits may occur year-round but peak breeding seasons are between February and August. The gestation period of the brush rabbit female is about 22 days. A female brush rabbit can have as many as five litters per year but two to three is more common. One to seven young are born per litter and they are immobile. The average number born per litter is three.

A trapping study of brush rabbits in the Berkeley Hills in northern California indicated that males had larger home ranges than females at all times of the year. This was especially in May when females were moving the least. It is estimated the home ranges of the brush rabbit average just less than one acre for males, and just less than half an acre for females. The shape of these home ranges is usually circular. This depends on the vegetation. It can be different in size and shape

The brush rabbit feeds mainly on grasses and forbs, especially green clover. It will also eat berries and browse from bushes.

Its predators include cougars, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, weasels, and various raptors and snakes. Its survival strategies include remaining immobile, when in brushy areas. It uses zigzag running when found and/or in open spaces.

The brush rabbit is not hunted, as are many other cottontail species. This is probably because of its small size. It is not a major cause of damage to crops or other human developments in its habitat. Certain subspecies of the brush rabbit are considered endangered and are protected by state and federal laws.