Ears of this jackrabbit are rimmed in white and tipped in black year round. White-tailed jackrabbits have a number of other distinct morphological characters which reflect adaptation to their environment and ecology. Enormous ears equipped with generous blood flow are used for heat dissipation in the warmer portions of the range, while they also provide an excellent means of predator detection. They feed on grasses, forbs, and shrubs in varying amounts. Reproduction The breeding season of white-tailed jackrabbits lasts from February to July with a peak from March to June.
Ovulation is induced, requiring copulation or suitable stimulation.
A maximum of one litter is produced in more nothern climates. At birth the young weigh approximately 90-100 grams, have open eyes, full fur, and limited mobility within half an hour. The young begin to forage at approximately 2 weeks of age and are fulled weaned at one month. Sexually maturity is reached by 7 or 8 months though there is little evidence of reproduction until the spring following their birth. L. townsendii lives to approximately 8 years of age in the wild.