What’s the difference in OH snowshoe hare vs a cottontail rabbit? Only 1 is OK to hunt
In a matter of days, Peter Cottontail will have no worries hopping down Mahoning County bunny trails. Cottontail rabbit season will close Feb. 29. Until that time, you can bag up to four rabbits a day, from sunrise to sunset.
Hares vs. Rabbits
Be sure to avoid snowshoe hares. They’re a protected species and illegal to hunt any time of the year.
Here are a few tips from nonprofit Modern Farmer on how to tell the difference between the two.
- Hares are usually larger and faster than rabbits.
- Hares have very long feet, and they are usually white.
- Cottontails can be fawn, brown or grey.
- Hares are born with a full coat of fur and open eyes. They can become independent at four weeks old.
- Snowshoe hares are nocturnal, which is one likely reason rabbit hunting ends at sunset.
- Pay no attention to the ears. Hares usually have longer ears, but in the case of the endangered snowshoes, their ears are as short as those of cottontails.
- Rabbits eat grasses and vegetables with leafy tops like carrots. Hares prefer hardier finds like bark, twigs and plant shoots.
- Snowshoes shed their coats for the winter and go from brown hair to white hair to camouflage in the snow.
- Cottontails live in dens; hares live above ground in hollow logs and nests.
- Rabbits are friendlier, preferring to live in groups up to 20 and hares tend to live alone. However, here in Mahoning County, eastern cottontails are also loners.
Mona Moore
Sun Herald