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Swamp Rabbit

Sylvilagus aquaticus · Hares and Rabbits

Swamp Rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus)
(c) Roger Shaw, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA) · CC BY-NC-SA · via iNaturalist

Swamp Rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus) is in the Hares and Rabbits family (Leporidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,533 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Swamp Rabbit: observations by month (U.S.)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

About Swamp Rabbit

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.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Swamp Rabbit by state

StateObservationsPeak monthMain season
Texas2,926AprilApr–Jul
Louisiana1,082AprilApr–Jun
Mississippi183JuneMar–Sep
Alabama139MaySep–Jun
Georgia82AprilApr–Jun
Tennessee36MayMar–Jun
Arkansas33MarchMar–Sep
Oklahoma26JuneApr–Jun
Missouri12MarchMar–May
Illinois11MayApr–May

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related mammals (Hares and Rabbits)

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 Swamp Rabbit?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to July.
Where is Swamp Rabbit most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi.