Rabbits get around by hopping. They have long ears. A cottontail has a short, fluffy tail. It looks like a cotton ball.
A frightened cottontail can run up to 18 miles an hour. It often zigzags.
A rabbit may thump its back feet on the ground. This warns of danger.
Rabbits eat only plants. In winter, cottontails eat bark, twigs and buds. A rabbit's front teeth never stop growing.
In the daytime, cottontails hide in thick bushes. Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk.
A baby rabbit is called a kit. A kit is born with no fur. It cannot see.
A mother rabbit stays away most of the day. She visits for a short time to feed her babies.
A kit opens its eyes at about a week old. It leaves the nest at two to three weeks old.
A pet rabbit needs a lot of time and care. It can live for 8 to 12 years. Never pick up a rabbit by its ears.
Words to know
- cottontail: wild rabbit
- thump: hit the ground
- nest: baby home
- kit: baby rabbit
