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Small Mammals of North Dakota

Family Leporidae

Hares and Rabbits

The single family of Leporidae falls under the order Lagomorpha. In North Dakota this includes three species of cottontail rabbits; the eastern species located in all but the northwest, the Nutall's located in the south west, and the desert species located in the Badlands.

Also included are the snowshoe hare occupying timbered areas in the northeast and the white-tailed jackrabbit found throughout the state. The "cottontails" are true rabbits, whereas the snowshoe and jackrabbit are hares. Cottontails differ from the hares in that their young are born blind and hairless and are totally dependent upon the adults after birth. Young hares are able to move about and feed on their own shortly after birth.

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