Picture yourself hiking through Tuolumne Meadows at dawn when a flash of white catches your eye—a rabbit, but not just any rabbit. Yosemite National Park hosts five distinct rabbit and hare species, each adapted to different elevations and habitats across the park’s diverse landscape.
From the compact brush rabbit darting through valley chaparral to the enormous white-tailed jackrabbit bounding across high-country plateaus, these lagomorphs play vital ecological roles and offer rewarding wildlife viewing opportunities.
You’ll discover where to find each species, how to identify them in the field, and what makes their Yosemite adaptations so remarkable.
1. Mountain Cottontail
The mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) represents one of Yosemite’s most adaptable rabbit species, thriving across a wide elevation range. You’ll recognize this medium-sized rabbit by its grayish-brown coat that provides excellent camouflage against rocky terrain and sagebrush.
Unlike the larger jackrabbits, mountain cottontails have shorter ears that measure less than their head length, giving them a more compact, rabbit-like appearance that most visitors expect.
Key Tip: Mountain cottontails are most active during early morning and evening hours, particularly around dawn. Focus your viewing efforts during these times for the best sightings.
These rabbits prefer open woodlands, sagebrush areas, and rocky slopes where they can quickly retreat to cover. In Yosemite, you’ll find them most commonly in the park’s mid-elevation zones, particularly around Crane Flat and along the Tioga Road corridor.
They weigh between 1.5 to 3 pounds and measure 12 to 15 inches in length. Their relatively short, fluffy tail shows white underneath, though it’s less prominent than their desert cottontail cousins.
Mountain cottontails create shallow depressions called “forms” beneath shrubs or in tall grass where they rest during daylight hours. They feed primarily on grasses, forbs, and the tender bark of shrubs and small trees.
During winter months, their diet shifts more heavily toward woody vegetation and dried grasses. These rabbits don’t dig their own burrows but will use abandoned burrows created by other animals when available.
The breeding season extends from spring through late summer, with females producing multiple litters of three to eight young. The babies, called kits, are born helpless and remain in shallow nests lined with grass and fur.
Within three weeks, young cottontails venture from the nest and begin feeding on vegetation alongside their mother.
2. Desert Cottontail
The desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) has only recently expanded into Yosemite’s western boundaries, making sightings relatively rare but increasingly possible. This species tends to favor lower, warmer elevations than the mountain cottontail.
You’ll most likely encounter desert cottontails near the park’s western entrance areas around Crane Flat and El Portal, where oak woodlands transition to drier habitats.
Important Note: Desert cottontails closely resemble mountain cottontails, so pay attention to location, ear length, and tail characteristics for accurate identification.
Desert cottontails display a lighter, more yellowish-brown coat compared to the grayer mountain cottontail. Their most distinctive feature is proportionally longer ears with less black tipping, and a notably larger tail with more prominent white “cotton” underneath.
Adults typically weigh 1.5 to 2.5 pounds and stretch 13 to 17 inches long, making them slightly larger than mountain cottontails in some measurements but similar in overall size.
This species shows remarkable heat adaptation, which explains its preference for Yosemite’s warmest, lowest-elevation areas. Desert cottontails possess enlarged ears that serve as efficient radiators, dissipating excess body heat during warm afternoons.
They spend hot midday hours resting in shaded forms beneath dense shrubs or rocky overhangs. Their activity peaks during cooler morning and evening hours when temperatures drop and predation risk decreases.
According to research from the National Park Service, desert cottontails primarily consume grasses, herbs, and the leaves of various shrubs. During drought conditions, they can survive on remarkably little water, obtaining most moisture from succulent vegetation. Their presence in Yosemite likely reflects climate changes and habitat modifications over recent decades.
These cottontails breed prolifically when conditions permit, with females producing up to four litters annually. Each litter contains three to six young that mature quickly, reaching independence within four to five weeks. This reproductive strategy allows populations to recover rapidly from predation or harsh winter losses.
3. Brush Rabbit
The brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani) holds the distinction of being Yosemite’s only true rabbit species, with hares comprising the remaining lagomorphs.
Significantly smaller than cottontails, brush rabbits rarely exceed 12 inches in length and weigh just over one pound. You’ll identify them by their exceptionally short ears—barely half the length of their head—and their nearly invisible tail that shows minimal white coloring.
This secretive species requires dense chaparral and thick brushy understory to survive. In Yosemite, brush rabbits occupy lower elevation areas with heavy vegetation, particularly in the western foothills and around Yosemite Valley where oak woodlands meet chaparral communities. They’re rarely spotted in open areas, preferring to remain within feet of protective cover at all times.
Pro Tip: Look for extensive networks of trails and runways beneath dense brush clumps—these are telltale signs of brush rabbit activity even when the animals remain hidden.
Brush rabbits maintain remarkably small home ranges, often less than half an acre. Males range slightly farther than females, particularly during breeding season. Rather than creating burrows, they rely entirely on dense vegetation for protection, ducking into impenetrable thickets when threatened. Their dark gray-brown coloration provides excellent camouflage within shadowy brush, making them extremely difficult to spot even when present.
These rabbits feed primarily on grasses and green forbs, with a particular preference for fresh clover when available. They also browse on various shrubs and consume berries seasonally.
Unlike many rabbit species, brush rabbits are somewhat social, with multiple individuals sometimes feeding in proximity while maintaining respectful distances. When startled, they thump their hind feet against the ground as an alarm signal before diving into protective cover.
Historical documents from Yosemite indicate brush rabbit populations have fluctuated significantly. The Mariposa subspecies once ranged more widely but now faces habitat constraints.
Current populations appear stable in suitable habitats, though their secretive nature makes population assessment challenging. Breeding occurs primarily from December through May, with females producing two to four litters of two to five young annually.
4. White-Tailed Jackrabbit
The white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) ranks as Yosemite’s largest and most impressive lagomorph, occasionally mistaken for foxes due to their substantial size.
These magnificent hares can weigh up to 10 pounds—nearly twice the mass of black-tailed jackrabbits—and stretch 22 to 26 inches in length. You’ll immediately notice their enormous ears that measure 5 to 6 inches and serve as both sound collectors and temperature regulators.
This high-country specialist inhabits Yosemite’s alpine and subalpine zones, preferring relatively flat, sparsely wooded terrain above 8,000 feet.
You’ll find white-tailed jackrabbits in areas like Tuolumne Meadows, along Tioga Pass, and on high plateaus near the Cathedral Range. Historical records document sightings near Merced Lake at 7,200 feet and along Glacier Point Road during winter months.
| Feature | Summer Coat | Winter Coat |
|---|---|---|
| Body Color | Pale brown to grayish | Pure white |
| Ear Tips | Dark brown/black | May retain brown |
| Tail | White top and bottom | Completely white |
| Feet | Large, grayish-white | White, snowshoe-like |
The white-tailed jackrabbit’s dramatic seasonal color change represents one of nature’s most remarkable adaptations. As winter approaches, their brownish summer coat gradually transforms to brilliant white, providing perfect camouflage against snow.
This molt occurs over several weeks, occasionally leaving individuals with mismatched patches during transition periods. The white pelage also provides insulation during brutal high-country winters.
These hares remain active year-round, foraging even when their habitat lies beneath several feet of snow. They feed on available grasses, sedges, and forbs during summer months, shifting to woody browse, dried vegetation, and bark during winter.
Their powerful hind legs, functioning like natural snowshoes, allow them to bound across deep snow with surprising speed. When threatened, white-tailed jackrabbits can reach speeds of 35 to 40 miles per hour in explosive bursts.
You’ll most often spot white-tailed jackrabbits during dawn and dusk when they emerge from daytime resting spots beneath willow bushes or rocky outcrops.
They prefer areas offering unobstructed views, allowing early detection of approaching predators like coyotes, foxes, and golden eagles. Research from the U.S. Geological Survey indicates these populations face increasing challenges from climate change and habitat alterations.
Breeding occurs in spring and early summer, with females producing one or two litters of three to eight young called leverets.
Unlike cottontail kits, leverets are born fully furred with eyes open, capable of hopping within hours. This precocial development suits the harsh, predator-rich alpine environment where these hares make their home.
5. Black-Tailed Jackrabbit
The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) represents the most widespread hare species across western North America, though it occupies limited territory within Yosemite.
You’ll recognize this species instantly by its enormous ears—up to 7 inches long—and characteristic black-topped tail that provides the animal’s common name. Adults measure 18 to 24 inches long and weigh 3 to 7 pounds, making them substantially larger than cottontails but smaller than white-tailed jackrabbits.
These jackrabbits prefer open terrain with scattered brush, making them most common near Yosemite’s western boundary around Crane Flat and Mather Station.
They’ve gradually expanded into these lower-elevation areas in recent decades. Unlike their high-country cousins, black-tailed jackrabbits maintain the same grayish-brown coat year-round, showing no seasonal color change. Their slender build and extremely long legs give them a distinctive profile easily distinguished from stockier cottontails.
Common Mistake: Calling these animals “rabbits”—they’re actually hares, born fully furred with eyes open, while true rabbits are born helpless in nests.
Black-tailed jackrabbits thrive in hot, arid conditions and demonstrate remarkable physiological adaptations. Their oversized ears contain extensive blood vessel networks that radiate excess heat, while their light-colored fur reflects solar radiation.
During scorching afternoons, they rest in shallow forms called “lays” beneath shrubs or beside rocks, positioning themselves to maximize shade. Activity peaks during cooler morning and evening hours.
These hares feed on a wide variety of vegetation including grasses, forbs, cacti, and shrubs. They can consume up to a half-pound of food daily, adjusting their diet seasonally based on availability.
During drought periods, black-tailed jackrabbits obtain sufficient moisture from succulent plants and can survive extended periods without drinking water. Their efficient kidneys concentrate urine, minimizing water loss.
When danger approaches, black-tailed jackrabbits employ a distinctive defense strategy. They remain motionless in their forms, relying on camouflage until threats pass very close.
Once they bolt, these hares can reach speeds exceeding 40 miles per hour and leap 20 feet in single bounds. They zigzag while running, making them difficult targets for pursuing predators. This explosive flight response contrasts sharply with the freezing strategy of smaller cottontails.
According to wildlife biologists, black-tailed jackrabbit populations undergo dramatic cycles, sometimes reaching high densities before crashing due to disease, predation, or resource limitations.
In Yosemite, populations appear moderate and stable. Breeding extends from late winter through summer, with females producing multiple litters of one to eight leverets. The young mature rapidly, reaching adult size within several months.
Yosemite’s five rabbit species showcase remarkable diversity across the park’s elevation gradient, from brush rabbits hiding in valley chaparral to white-tailed jackrabbits bounding across alpine plateaus. Each species has carved its own ecological niche through specialized adaptations, seasonal behaviors, and habitat preferences.
When you explore Yosemite’s trails, remember that early morning and evening hours offer your best viewing opportunities. Watch for movement near protective cover, scan meadow edges at dawn, and check high-country slopes during summer hikes.
These lagomorphs form essential links in Yosemite’s food web while providing wildlife watchers with engaging encounters throughout the park’s diverse landscapes.
