Types of Rabbits in Tennessee

Eastern Cottontail

• The eastern cottontail is found primarily within the eastern two-thirds of the United States, with the exception of Maine, much of New Hampshire and Vermont, northeastern New York, and Louisiana's coastal communities. Eastern cottontails have been recorded as far west as the Great Plains, New Mexico and Arizona. The cottontail is known to spend its entire life within an area no larger than 10 acres. Traveling less than a half-mile a day, these rabbits prefer to nest in the dense vegetation between wooded forestland and open grassland.

Appalachian Cottontail

• Formerly known as New England cottontails, Appalachian cottontails are very similar to eastern cottontails. The best way to distinguish between the two is to look for the dark patch between the Appalachians' ears, but often the differences are so subtle the species are indistinguishable unless handled. The Appalachian is the smallest rabbit species in the southeastern part of the United States and is considered rare in Tennessee. They are found predominately in the chilly underbrush of the Appalachian Mountains.

Swamp Rabbit

• Swamp rabbits, also called cane-cutters, are the largest species of rabbit in the southeast. They can weigh up to 6 pounds and look more like the eastern cottontail and Appalachian species than the common marsh rabbit. The species prefers a habitat composed of thickets -- as well as logs, stumps and tree falls -- located close to the water's edge. Swamp rabbits get their "cane-cutter" nickname due to their fondness for canebrakes dominated by switchcane.

Domestic Breeds

• According to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, an organization of some 25,000 breeders and rabbit enthusiasts across the country, there are 47 recognized domestic rabbit breeds in the United States. Tennessee is home to a handful of breeders' clubs. Domestic rabbits lead very different lives than their wild counterparts, living as long as 10 years and weighing anywhere from two to 20 pounds depending on the breed. Domestic rabbits can't breed with wild rabbits.