What kind of wild rabbits live in Michigan?

Answer 1

Rabbits are found throughout the United States. There are two species of rabbits that live in Michigan, the Eastern Cottontail and the Snowshoe Hares. They are commonly found around brushy fence rows, field edges, pine tree farms, orchards, brush piles, landscaped back yards where food and plenty of cover available.

Rabbits live a relatively short life span of 12 to 15 months. Rabbits have two to four litters per year depending on species and two to eight young per litter. First litters are born in Michigan around March to April. Sexual maturity typically happens around 2 to 3 months after birth.

The rabbit is a vegetarian. The Michigan rabbit's diet varies between seasons due to availability. About 50% of the rabbits intake is grasses during the summer. Rabbits have other food sources such as wild strawberry, clover and garden vegetables. In the winter, the rabbits feed on woody plant parts, such as twigs, bark and buds of oak, dogwood, sumac, maple and birch. As the Michigan winter snow accumulates, rabbits have access to the higher trunk and branches. Feeding activity peaks after dawn and after sunset. Rabbits cause a great deal of damage in their search for food. They are pests to gardeners and farmers in the summer. In the winter, they are a threat to the orchards, tree farms and manicured landscapes. In addition, humans may contract the bacterial disease tularemia from handling the carcass of an infected cottontail.