Fun Fact Friday: How Do Rabbits Survive in the Desert

How do these little cottontail rabbits survive in the desert?

This was the question I asked myself as I watched a small bunny race past the screen door in the early hours of the morning. The fact that we’d previously found two dead rabbits, one in the pool and one in the hot tub, the day before did not help me believe in their ability to stay alive here. 

Sadly, this is somewhat true. In the wild, these desert cottontails often die within their first year of their life. They are prey to most desert animals including snakes (I’ll definitely be googling how that’s possible), coyotes, and owls—which I just learned about in my birds of prey falconry workshop. 

This is perhaps why females can begin breeding at three months and have multiple litters in a year. 

So, how do they survive? What do desert cottontails eat? How do they get enough water in the desert environments? How do they not die of heat exhaustion while I can barely leave the air conditioning of my accommodations for an hour?

Diet: Desert cottontails feed mostly on plants. They eat the grasses, cacti, and whatever greenery is available. 

Hydration: They can survive by getting most of their water from cacti and other plants, but will certainly drink water if it’s available (which would explain how they may have ended up in the pool). 

Respite from the Sun: These rabbits tend to stay within a 400-yard range and though are sometimes active in the day if temperatures are allowed, tend to be seen in the twilight/dawn hours and at night. 

This is why my morning coffee at six in the morning allowed me to catch glimpses as they hopped into shady patches as the sun was beginning to rise. 

In the heat of the day, while my friends and I retreated to the pool, these rabbits can be found hiding in the shade of a bush or in the burrows of other little animals.

After some research, I am a bit heartbroken but also accepting of the fact that these rabbits live tough lives out in the desert, as do most animals, including the birds we met the previous day whose lives could be extended by 10+ years with the constant shelter and food they receive as working birds.