The Plush Bunny and The Cottontail Rabbit

The Plush Bunny and The Cottontail Rabbit

The plush bunny is a popular choice of soft toy next to the teddy bear. It's a terrific first-time stuffed animal for a young child and equally as good for someone a little older. For those that are partial to all things to do with rabbits, a plush bunny or two is a great way to begin a collection.

While there are more than one species of cottontail rabbit, the eastern cottontail is the one most people are familiar with. It can be found living in Canada right through to South America and in the United States from the East Coast to the Great Plains. The coloring of the cottontail rabbits ranges from reddish brown to gray with a white underpart but it's its white, short, fluffy tail that looks like a cotton ball tail for which it gets its name.

The cottontail breeds in March right through to early fall giving birth after 28 days to three to eight young. Females don't dig their own burrows, but instead, scratch out what is no more than a depression in the ground, usually in an area of dense grass so they can ensure to remain hidden; they then go on to line their nest with fur and dry grass. A female cottontail can have anywhere from two to four litters per year with babies born blind, naked, and totally helpless. They grow very quickly, however, and leave the nest after about two to three weeks. At four to five weeks, babies are totally independent and weaned from their mother. Only about 15 percent of baby rabbits will go on to survive their first year.

Unlike many animals which hibernate in winter, cottontails are active throughout the entire year. They come out mainly at night in search of food. During the day, they will stay hidden in dense brush where they can be protected from bad weather and predators. When the weather gets particularly harsh or to get away from a predator, cottontails will make use of burrows abandon by ground hogs.

Cottontail rabbits have great hearing and eyesight. When they sense danger, they will freeze in place until the danger has 'disappeared.' However, if getting too close, they will run immediately, usually moving in slow, short jumps or hops. When really frightened, they can reach speeds of up to 18 miles per hour over short distances and run in a zig-zag type pattern so as to confuse whatever is pursuing them. While they don't go in the water very often, cottontails are also very good swimmers.

When choosing your plush bunny, ensure it has a tail while it doesn't have to be exactly like the cottontail rabbits', something similar would give the plush bunny a more authentic look. Like teddy bears, the plush rabbit comes in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, green, and blue, especially when close to the Easter holiday. If it's realism you're going for, stick to the same type of coloring found on the real thing.

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Copyright Shelley Vassall, 2010. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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