Head to head
Eastern Cottontail vs Snowshoe Hare
The eastern cottontail and snowshoe hare are often lumped together as similar-looking small mammals, but one is a true rabbit and the other a true hare, a biological distinction reflected clearly in how each is born and how each survives.
| Eastern Cottontail | Snowshoe Hare | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sylvilagus floridanus | Lepus americanus |
| True rabbit or true hare | True rabbit | True hare |
| Birth condition | Born blind and helpless | Born fully furred and mobile |
| Signature adaptation | High reproductive rate | Oversized snowshoe-like hind feet |
| Seasonal coat change | No | Yes, brown to white for winter |
| Habitat | Grassland and forest edge | Coniferous and mixed forest |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Diet | Herbivore | Herbivore |
Eastern Cottontail vs Snowshoe Hare: common questions
Is the eastern cottontail a rabbit or a hare?
The eastern cottontail is a true rabbit, born blind and helpless in a fur-lined nest, which sets it apart biologically from the snowshoe hare, a true hare born fully furred and mobile almost immediately after birth.
Why does only the snowshoe hare turn white in winter?
The snowshoe hare occupies coniferous forest habitat across the snowy north, where a white winter coat provides valuable camouflage, while the eastern cottontail's grassland and forest-edge habitat farther south does not offer the same reliable snow cover to justify a seasonal colour change.
How does each species cope with heavy predation?
The eastern cottontail counters intense predation mainly through an extremely high reproductive rate, producing multiple litters a season, while the snowshoe hare relies more on physical adaptations such as its oversized hind feet and seasonal camouflage to avoid and escape predators in the first place.