Hobbies And Interests

What Animals Eat Jack Rabbits?

The five species of jackrabbit are hares, scientific genus Lepus. They differ from rabbits in several crucial ways, including giving birth to fully furred young. They are also more solitary animals, in contrast to the highly social rabbits. One thing rabbits and hares have in common is being prey animals for a range of predators. Jackrabbits are no exception, and their natural predators include a wide range of mammals, reptiles and birds.
  1. Mammals

    • Large carnivores, in particular coyotes, sometimes depend on jackrabbits as their primary food source. Other canids partial to jackrabbits include foxes and wolves. Domestic dogs are certainly big enough to take down jackrabbits, and there are accounts of domestic cats catching juveniles. Larger cats, including bobcats and mountain lions, regularly consume adult and juvenile jackrabbits.

    Birds

    • Large birds of prey such as eagles, hawks and owls eat jackrabbits. Species known to take jackrabbits on a regular basis include golden eagles and great horned owls. However, any raptor big enough is likely to view a jackrabbit, especially a juvenile, as an excellent meal.

    Reptiles

    • Larger snakes are yet another threat. Jackrabbits inhabit the same habitat as large, carnivorous snakes such as rattlesnakes. Adult jackrabbits are too big for such snakes to swallow, but they will take leverets if given the opportunity.

    Effects of Predation

    • Jackrabbits, like other hares, are alert and very fast, with wiry bodies and elongated legs adapted for speed. This is to escape the many carnivores that would eat them if given a chance. As jackrabbits are herbivores, they have no other reason to be able to run quickly. Other adaptions jackrabbits have to cope with so much predation include breeding rapidly; one female jackrabbit can have up to six litters a year. Each litter may consist of as many as eight leverets. Normally, the populations of predators and prey stay roughly in balance. One species of jackrabbit, the Tehuantepec jackrabbit, is endangered, and two other species are threatened, but the causes are human activities, not natural predators.


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