Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) in the wild — Catch'Um species field guide

Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) wildlife photograph

Overview

Black-tailed jackrabbits are large hares of the western United States, built for heat and speed. Enormous ears dump heat, a black dorsal tail tip flashes in flight, and bounding runs carry them across scrub, desert, and open rangeland.

For US collectors, this jackrabbit is a common western mammal — roadside dusk sightings, towering ears, and a signature hare of arid America.

Scientific nameLepus californicus
Length47–63 cm
Weight1.5–3.5 kg
LifespanAround 2–5 years in the wild
DietGrasses
ConservationLeast Concern
RegionWestern US Deserts & Plains

Habitat

Desert scrub
Grassland
Sagebrush steppe
Open rangeland

Deserts, scrublands, grasslands, and open rangeland of the western United States and northern Mexico, resting in shallow scrapes by day and foraging at dusk.

Countries found

Black-tailed Jackrabbit in United States

Field notes

Field scale for the Black-tailed Jackrabbit: length around 47-63 cm; weight 1.5-3.5 kg. Typical lifespan: Around 2-5 years in the wild.

When you are scanning habitat, prioritise desert scrub, grassland, sagebrush steppe, and open rangeland. Those settings are where a clean look and a usable photo are most likely.

Quick ID anchor: Large hare with very long ears and long hind legs; grey-brown grizzled coat. Confirm with behaviour and habitat before you log the discovery.

Diet

Grasses, forbs, and shrubs including sagebrush and cacti pads when needed.

Mostly nocturnal and crepuscular browsers and grazers.

Behaviour

Rest in shallow forms by day; explode into long bounding runs when flushed.

Breed through much of the year in warm regions; several litters possible.

How to identify

Large hare with very long ears and long hind legs; grey-brown grizzled coat.

Black stripe on top of the tail and often black ear tips; white underside of tail.

Interesting facts

01
Hares, not rabbits — young are born fully furred with open eyes.
02
Black upper surface of the tail is the namesake field mark.
03
Huge ears radiate heat in hot deserts.
04
Powerful leaps help outrun coyotes and other predators.
05
Feed on grasses, forbs, and shrubs, especially at dusk.
06
Widespread across the American West and into Mexico.

Conservation status

LC: Least Concern

Black-tailed jackrabbits are Least Concern and remain common across much of the West. Local numbers swing with drought, disease, and rangeland condition.

Sources: IUCN Red List