Habitat
Unlike the Black-tailed Jack, which
prefers to live in valleys and flat, open country, the White-tailed Jack
lives in the hills and mountains. In their summer coat, in areas where
the ranges of these two Jack Rabbits overlap, there may be some confusion
as to identity. However, the two may be distinguished by the color of the
underside of their tails. The tail of the Black-tailed Jack is brownish
underneath; the tail of the White-tailed Jack is white.
Description
The Black-tailed Jack Rabbit is
18 to 25 inches long and is colored buff peppered with black above, and
white below. The tail has a black stripe above. The ears are long and brown
with black tips.The Antelope Jack is approximately the same size, but colored
gray above with the lower sides mostly white. The face, throat and ears
are brownish, but there is no black tip on the ears.
Hares have many natural enemies. Coyotes, bobcats, foxes, horned owls, hawks and snakes prey on both the young and adults.
Hares are active primarily at night.
During the day they lie crouched in a "form" which they have made by using
the same spot in a clump of grass or weeds. With their long ears flattened
against their back, they are difficult to see. Frequently on hot summer
days, they can be seen resting in the shade of a small bush or even a fence
post. When frightened they run with such speed that few dogs can catch
them. At the start of the chase
their speed is broken by high long leaps.
Hares are strict vegetarians, eating a great variety of herbs and shrubs.