Completed
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderLagomorpha (Lagomorphs)
- FamilyLeporidae (Hares and Rabbits)
- GenusSylvilagus (Cottontail Rabbits)
- SpeciesSylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cottontail)
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
1,162 Verified sightings at Minneapolis [Saint Paul]
355 In all 7 parks From 2019 to 2026
July Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted
About the Eastern Cottontail
The eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is a species of rabbit in the family Leporidae. It is the most widespread and abundant rabbit species in North America, inhabiting a wide range that extends from southern Canada throughout most of the United States and into parts of Mexico, Central America, and the northern regions of South America. Known for its distinctive fluffy white tail, which resembles a cotton ball and gives the species its common name, the eastern cottontail typically inhabits open fields, meadows, and brushy areas where it can easily find cover and food. It is a primarily herbivorous, crepuscular mammal that feeds on grasses, herbs, twigs, and bark, and plays an important role in the ecosystem as prey for a variety of predators including foxes, hawks, and owls. Due to its adaptability to human-altered landscapes such as suburban and agricultural areas, the eastern cottontail has maintained stable population levels and is not considered threatened. It is also well known for its high reproductive rate, with females capable of producing multiple large litters annually, which contributes to its widespread presence.
Sylvilagus floridanus is a member... Wikipedia →
Sounds
Recording0:07
United States · 2025
© tigerj · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:06
United States · 2026
© apolloslibrarian · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recent sightings of Eastern Cottontail in Minneapolis [Saint Paul]
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Badlands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 7 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada |
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Seattle | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Turin | 🇮🇹 Italy | |
| 5 | Detroit | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 8 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 9 | Dallas | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedgwick County Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | ZooAmerica | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Dallas World Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States |
Closest Relatives at Minneapolis [Saint Paul]
No species of the same family or order lives in Minneapolis [Saint Paul], so these are its closest relatives here: other mammals.
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing an Eastern Cottontail in Minneapolis [Saint Paul]?
Likely
About 50% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Cottontail sighting in Minneapolis [Saint Paul] on a given day, based on 1,162 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 23 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see an Eastern Cottontail in Minneapolis [Saint Paul]?
June and July
In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Cottontail in Minneapolis [Saint Paul] on a given day, against about 40% in August to April, the lowest months. Those are among Minneapolis [Saint Paul]'s wettest months, with about 110 mm of rain a month against 20 mm in January.
What time of day is best to see an Eastern Cottontail?
Between 5 and 8 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern Cottontail sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Is Minneapolis [Saint Paul] the best place to see an Eastern Cottontail?
3rd of 25
Of the 25 cities where we can rate Eastern Cottontail sightings, Minneapolis [Saint Paul] ranks 3rd at about 50%. The best odds are in Boston (United States, about 70%) and Seattle (United States, about 50%).
Where does the Eastern Cottontail sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern Cottontail is recorded against all the mammals logged in Minneapolis [Saint Paul] (1,162 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
