Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Lepus californicus
Western deserts, grasslands, and scrub. Large hare tracks, hind feet longer than cottontail.
What does a black-tailed jackrabbit look like?
Long ears, long legs, black stripe on the tail.
What do black-tailed jackrabbit tracks look like?
Same pattern as cottontail, scaled up, with longer bounds.
- Large hare tracks, hind feet longer than cottontail
- Hopping group with a long gap between sets when running
- Black on the top of the tail
- Very long ears with black tips
- Round fibrous pellets, slightly larger than cottontail
What does black-tailed jackrabbit poop look like?
Round pellets, a bit larger than cottontail, in open scrub. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Western deserts, grasslands, and scrub. Typical places: desert, field. Year-round.
What to do next
- Leave it. It is not a lost pet rabbit.
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Eastern cottontail identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you tell jackrabbit tracks from cottontail tracks?
Jackrabbit sets are larger and the running bounds are much longer.
How to tell a black-tailed jackrabbit from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Eastern cottontail. Two long hind feet side by side, two small front feet staggered. Brown-gray rabbit, white cotton tail, shorter ears than a jackrabbit.
Black-tailed jackrabbit field marks
- Large hare tracks, hind feet longer than cottontail
- Hopping group with a long gap between sets when running
- Black on the top of the tail
- Very long ears with black tips
Where the sign shows up
Western deserts, grasslands, and scrub. Typical places: desert, field. Year-round.
Same pattern as cottontail, scaled up, with longer bounds. Round pellets, a bit larger than cottontail, in open scrub.
Common questions
How do you tell jackrabbit tracks from cottontail tracks?
Jackrabbit sets are larger and the running bounds are much longer.