Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) is in the Hares and Rabbits family (Leporidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 45,290 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Desert Cottontail: observations by month (U.S.)
About Desert Cottontail
The desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), also known as Audubon's cottontail, is a New World cottontail rabbit, and a member of the family Leporidae. Unlike the European rabbit, they do not form social burrow systems, but compared with some other leporids, they are extremely tolerant of other individuals in their vicinity.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Desert Cottontail by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 29,314 | April | Jan–Sep |
| Arizona | 9,187 | April | Dec–Sep |
| New Mexico | 2,164 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Nevada | 1,729 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Colorado | 939 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Texas | 915 | April | Mar–Nov |
| Utah | 645 | July | Apr–Oct |
| South Dakota | 159 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Wyoming | 82 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Montana | 68 | June | May–Sep |
| North Dakota | 38 | July | May–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 24 | June | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 19 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Kansas | 6 | June | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Hares and Rabbits)
Eastern Cottontail
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Marsh Rabbit
Brush Rabbit
Snowshoe Hare
Swamp Rabbit
Mountain Cottontail
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Desert Cottontail?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from January to October.
Where is Desert Cottontail most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Arizona, New Mexico.