Did you know that rabbits and hares are two different species of animals? Meaning that the two can not breed with each other. These two breeding together would be like dogs and cats breeding, since both are very different. Something that can make this confusing also is that “Jack Rabbits” are really hares, whereas “Belgian Hares” are really an ARBA recognized breed of domesticated rabbits.
Here are just some of the things that set them apart:
Rabbits Vs. Hares
Gestation Period 29-32 days 28-42 days
When Born Bald, eyes closed With hair, eyes open
Babies Smaller Larger
Running Short distance Long distance
Legs and Ears Smaller Larger
Did you know that rabbits are also different species of animals than the wild rabbits here in the USA? However, in Europe our rabbits that we have here can breed with their wild rabbits, because our domesticated rabbit came from the European wild rabbits. All the rabbits that are kept here in the States, whether be for pet, show, meat, ect. go back to rabbits that were originally shipped over here from Europe.
There are only three kinds of rabbits that are truely native to America which are: the Brush Rabbit, Mountain Cottontail, and Pygmy Rabbit.
Brush Rabbit- They are found in western Oregon to southern Baja California.
Mountain Cottontail- They are found mostly in the western parts of the US.
Pygmy Rabbit- You will find these in the Columbia Plateau and Great Basin regions of the western US. |
