Sylvilagus bachmani
brush rabbit

Sylvilagus bachmani ranges from the Columbia River in Oregon southward to the tip of Baja, California and from east of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges and desert areas west throughout much of California (Wilson & Ruff 1999).

As their name implies, brush rabbits are primarily found in areas with dense brushy cover. Brush rabbits rarely leave the brush for extended periods of time.

Brush rabbits are a small to medium sized cottontail. The pelage is evenly dark, consisting of steel gray, black, and orange. The ears are fairly small with a slight point. The tail is not prominent, on the top it is the same dark brown and white underneath.

Sylvilagus bachmani ranges in length from 11 inches to 14 1/2 inches. Females are generally a little bigger than males. The dental formula is 2/1, 3/2, 3/3, totalling 28. (Wilson & Ruff 1999, Verts & Carraway 1998).

Brush rabbits are active all year round and are mainly crepuscular. They come out of their brush area after sunset and remain active until very early morning. They may emerge again a few hours later, until late morning. They rarely emerge in the afternoon, most of that time is spent resting. However, on a nice day, brush rabbits may be observed basking in the sun.

Brush rabbits are wary and secretive animals. They use runways, tunnels, and burrows--although not as extensively as other members of their genus. When pursued, brush rabbits climb trees and scrubs. When brush rabbits are frightened their characteristic response is foot thumping. Thumps may continue for several minutes. Squeals and cries are vocalizations used by brush rabbits in pain or when scared.

To protect themselves from predators, brush rabbits can sit perfectly still for long periods of time. When threatened they run in a zig-zag manner at about 20 to 25 miles an hour.

Although a gregarious species while foraging, brush rabbits are mostly solitary. Brush rabbits inhabit individual home ranges, with male home ranges on average larger than female home ranges (Chapman 1974, Wilson & Ruff 1999, Verts & Carraway 1998).

Brush rabbits are herbivores whose diet varies with the season. Grasses make up a large portion of their diet. However, brush rabbits feed on other species of plants, including leaves, forbs and scrubs such as wild rose and blackberries. Whenever available, green clover is preferred (Chapman 1974, Wilson & Ruff 1999).

Brush rabbits are sometimes considered a pest because they can cause damage to crops and decorative vegetation. Brush rabbits have also been blamed for depredations on the seedlings planted for forest regeneration, however this is questionable (Verts & Carraway 1998).

Like many other rabbits, brush rabbits are hunted for sport and food. Some may be captured and raised for pets.

One subspecies of riparian brush rabbits, S. bachmani riparius, are considered endangered throughout their range under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. This subspecies occurs in the San Joaquin Valley of California and is also considered endangered by the state of California. Population declines are due to many factors, such as loss of natural habitat, wildfire, and disease.

Within the species Sylvilagus bachmani, there are 13 known subspecies.