New Mexico wildlife
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
Warm desert grasslands at dawn offer the best winter sightings.
See the Black-tailed Jackrabbit up close
Best months
Dec · Jan · Feb
Best seen just after sunrise on calm mornings; check official wildlife reports for recent activity.
Where to look
New Mexico high-desert grasslands at misty dawnBosque del Apache National Wildlife RefugeValley of Fires Recreation Area
Conservation status
Common and widespread in western North America
Good to know
Do black-tailed jackrabbits dig burrows?
No, they rest in shallow depressions called forms rather than burrows.
Why are black-tailed jackrabbits called 'jackrabbits'?
Early settlers named them for their long ears, which resemble those of a donkey or 'jackass'.
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