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I was out for a drive the other day when I encountered a Black-tailed Jackrabbit.
Jackrabbits are among the species most associated with the western United States. They’re not really rabbits: they’re hares. Hares and rabbits are distantly related but there are some key differences. Rabbits are born hairless, blind, and helpless. Hares are born with their eyes open and are fur-covered at birth. Hares have much longer legs than rabbits and are evolved to run. A jackrabbit (there is more than one species) is capable of a top speed of nearly 40 miles per hour (about 64 kilometers per hour) and can outrun a horse for a short distance. Jackrabbits are known for their gigantic ears.
Jacrabbits are creatures of open country. I came across this individual in a patch of dry grassland.
Jackrabbits are not endangered but they’re also not all that visible. They’re mostly nocturnal and tend to spend their days resting under the cover of deep brush or shrubs. Encountering one in broad daylight is a bit unusual. This one surprised me by posing for me for a few seconds. Normally, one vanishes in a flash when I see it.
Images made with a Canon R5, Canon EF 400mm f4 DO II lens+Canon EF 1.4x telextender, M setting (auto ISO), ISO 1600 (first image), 2000 (second image), f6.3 @ 1/4000.
Sonoran Images 