The Black-tailed Jackrabbit is a large hare with impossibly long ears that radiate excess body heat, acting as a biological air conditioner in desert environments. When fleeing predators, it can reach speeds of 40 mph and leaps up to 20 feet in a single bound. Its populations periodically irrupt to extremely high densities before crashing, a pattern driven by food availability and predation.
Best time to see a Black-tailed Jackrabbit
The best time to see a Black-tailed Jackrabbit is February–June, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 19,815 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Black-tailed Jackrabbit? What animal is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Black-tailed Jackrabbit sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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