These rabbits have large erect ears with black tips. The characteristically upturned tail sports white fluffy fur that looks like a cotton ball, hence the name cottontail. Fairly easy to tell apart as the jackrabbit has a bold white eyebrow, much longer ears relative to body size, and does not have a cottontail. Cottontails are frequently found in social groups where jackrabbits are normally solitary. Its close relative the Brush Rabbit is extremely rare.
Cottontails live approximately two years in the wild.
Though after the young have been weaned many juveniles can be found foraging during the day. Unlike their cousins the hares, cottontails are weak runners, they are seldom found far from protective cover. A prey species, cottontails are an extremely important food source for owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, snakes, and other predators. The tracks of cottontails are composed of the long hind prints together in front of the two small, slightly staggered, front paw prints. Their diet consists of grasses, leaves, twigs, cactus, row crops, bark, and fruit.