By Alisha Brewer
Thanksgiving always brings me a sense of peace. Maybe it’s the warm smell of turkey and butter buns cooking in the oven, maybe it’s the chatter of family and friends or the hum of football in the background. For me thanksgiving is the last opportunity to take in a breath of calm and quiet before the rush of December.
My one year old son has made a miraculous discovery, cottontail rabbits. (I know it seems like I’m getting away from the idea of “thanksgiving” but stick with me here). The rabbits ascend in my yard in the early morning and evening hours. My son will gasp, literally gasp, when he sees one. He points, claps and looks at me to make sure that I’m seeing it too. These simple little beings elicit so much happiness from him. One may ask, “What’s so great about rabbits?” For many of us they are an everyday occurrence, a common sight. This is true for me too, but they also remind me that so often it’s the little things that bring the most joy.
So, as a tribute to the quiet simplicity of thanksgiving and a nod to one of the things that my youngest is most thankful for, let’s uncover the deep mysteries of the desert cottontail rabbit. (Dramatic language may have been used in an effort to keep you reading…)
Let’s start with something crazy- rabbits like to eat their poop. It’s called coprophagy and it’s quite a normal and healthy behavior in their world. Think about what our desert cottontails consume; grasses, leaves, mesquite pods, bark, prickly pear, your amazing plants that you spent a fortune of time and money laboring on. This super fibrous diet isn’t the easiest to digest. By the time it has worked its way through the rabbit’s system there can still be many nutrients that were not broken down or absorbed. The rabbits remedy this by consuming their poop so that it is not wasted.
To be technical the cottontails produce two different types of poop. The first one is likely the one that you can picture if you close your eyes; small, dark, round pellets. Rabbits don’t bother eating that. The second type of poop is called cecotropes. This is the good stuff. It is a product of the rabbit’s cecum, which helps break down the material into simple sugars. This second course poop is generally produced at night and is soft, dark and tarry. Seconds anyone?
Just because you’re super cute, doesn’t mean that you have it easy. (It’s the story of your life, right?) Well, desert cottontails live in a world where just about everything wants to eat them; birds of prey, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, snakes. Even our dogs, cats and vehicles pose a huge threat to them. So rightfully, they’re a little skittish. Their hearing is their primary source of protection. If a predator is detected, they will freeze in an effort to blend in with their surroundings. Should this not work, they can run up to 20 miles per hour and will do so in zigzag formation making them really tricky to catch. Their average life expectancy is no more than two years- it’s a tough world out there.
To combat a high mortality rate, they like to breed- a lot. They breed all throughout the year and the average litter will have three to six kits. Mom will have up to six litters a year. That’s a lot of rabbits! The youngsters grow quickly and will leave their fur and grass lined nests around three weeks old. They are fully mature at three months old and the circle continues.
So, sure, cottontails are common, simple and may not be the most interesting creatures on Earth. But, they do have to work very hard to try to make the most out of the short life that they are given. I’d like to express my appreciation for our desert cottontails. Their presence helps make Vail feel like home. These unassuming underdogs unknowingly put a smile on my son’s face every time. For that I am forever thankful.
Alisha Brewer is a veteran zoo keeper of nearly 15 years. U of A alum. Boy mom, veggie dog connoisseur, anti Oxford comma and eternal optimist. Alisha hopes to connect residents to the incredible creatures that surround us.
