Swamp Rabbit
Sylvilagus aquaticus
Unlike most rabbits, swamp rabbits are excellent swimmers and will take to the water to escape predators, sometimes submerging completely with only their nose exposed.
- Scientific name
- Sylvilagus aquaticus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Lagomorpha › Leporidae › Sylvilagus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Bottomland hardwood forests, cypress swamps, marshes, and wet floodplains.
- Diet
- Sedges, grasses, cane, aquatic plants, twigs, and tree bark.
- Range
- Southern United States, Mississippi River Valley, Gulf Coast States
- Size
- 45 to 55 cm (18 to 22 inches) in length; weight of 1.6 to 2.7 kg (3.5 to 6 lbs)
- Lifespan
- 2 to 3 years in the wild
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, habitat fragmentation from agriculture, and urban development.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and docile. Maintain a respectful distance of 10-15 feet to avoid startling them. Do not attempt to handle wild rabbits, as they can scratch or bite if cornered and may carry ticks or zoonotic diseases like tularemia. If scratched, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
The swamp rabbit ( Sylvilagus aquaticus ), or swamp hare , is a large cottontail rabbit found in the swamps and wetlands of the southern United States. Other common names for the swamp rabbit include marsh rabbit and cane-cutter. The common name, along with the species name aquaticus (meaning found in water), are suitable names for a species with a strong preference for wet areas and that will take to the water and swim.
Photo: Mike Duran, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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