What Do Jackrabbits Eat?
Jackrabbits are herbivores, so they only eat plants. According to National Geographic, jackrabbits eat a lot, and although they are small, they often consume more than one pound of grass, shrubs or bark in a single day.
Because jackrabbits have hefty appetites, they often cause problems for farmers. They reproduce quickly and in large quantities, so many farmers opt to kill large jackrabbit populations to protect their crops. Killing them poses no threat to their overall population. As of 2014, jackrabbits are not endangered.
Jackrabbits are much less of a nuisance to humans when they live in their natural habitat, which is virtually any area in North America that is open, very hot and dry. Jackrabbits build nests under shrubs or thick bushes for shelter and to protect themselves from predators.
There are five species of jackrabbits, and they are generally found in the western and central regions of North America. Although the word “rabbit” is in its name, the jackrabbit is actually a hare, and it is slightly larger than a rabbit. Jackrabbits also have much larger ears than rabbits, and they can run up to 40 miles an hour. They can also leap as high as 10 feet, which is especially helpful when they’re trying to escape predators.
