There are 13 species of cottontail rabbits (genus Sylvilagus), nine of which are found in various sections of North America north of Mexico. In Colorado, we have the mountain, the eastern and the desert cottontail. While we also encounter white and black-tailed jackrabbits, and these species can become pests in farming areas, cottontails are the source of most damage to landscaping and garden plants in Colorado. Jackrabbits are actually hares, with longer ears and feet than cottontails and occur primarily in open range habitat.
Rabbits mean very different things to different people. They are the object of adoration for young children and have been the subject of nursery rhymes and folklore. For sportsmen, they might be a tasty game animal, yet for gardeners, farmers, and homeowners, rabbits can be the source of great and prolific frustration.
They do considerable damage to flowers, vegetables, trees, and shrubs any time of the year and in places ranging from suburban yards to rural fields and tree plantations. Control is often necessary to reduce damage, but complete extermination is not typically possible, necessary, or desirable. Rabbits usually can be accepted as interesting additions to the backyard or rural landscape if control techniques are applied correctly. Under some unusual circumstances, control of damage can be difficult.
Damage control methods include removal by live trapping or hunting, exclusion, and chemical repellents. In general, no toxicants or fumigants are registered for rabbit control.
For information on managing conflicts with rabbits, see the following:
Controlling Rabbit Damage in Tree Plantings
Damage Prevention and Control Methods
Rabbits in the Vegetable Garden
Rabbit Resistant Plants
Cottontails: Mammal Guide
Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage
