Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is in the Hares and Rabbits family (Leporidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 148,815 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Eastern Cottontail: observations by month (U.S.)
About Eastern Cottontail
The eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is one of the most common rabbit species in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Eastern Cottontail by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 17,821 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 15,959 | June | Mar–Sep |
| Illinois | 9,232 | April | Mar–Sep |
| New York | 8,724 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 8,642 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Washington | 8,531 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Ohio | 7,430 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Florida | 6,812 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Maryland | 6,738 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Virginia | 6,562 | June | Apr–Aug |
| North Carolina | 6,130 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Minnesota | 5,036 | July | Apr–Sep |
| New Jersey | 4,856 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Michigan | 4,566 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 4,340 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Indiana | 2,669 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Tennessee | 2,580 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Missouri | 2,461 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Connecticut | 2,208 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 1,641 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Iowa | 1,376 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Kansas | 1,285 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Georgia | 1,264 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 1,189 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Kentucky | 1,177 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Nebraska | 1,076 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Delaware | 1,042 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Vermont | 983 | July | Apr–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 838 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Arkansas | 831 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Alabama | 823 | June | Mar–Sep |
| West Virginia | 816 | April | Mar–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 665 | July | May–Sep |
| South Carolina | 616 | June | Apr–Aug |
| South Dakota | 462 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Oregon | 432 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Louisiana | 260 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Mississippi | 250 | June | Apr–Aug |
| North Dakota | 233 | July | May–Sep |
| Colorado | 217 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Maine | 35 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Wyoming | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Hares and Rabbits)
Desert 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 Eastern Cottontail?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to September.
Where is Eastern Cottontail most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois.