Daily Zoo Animal: #14, Eastern Cottontail

[urbpan]

Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridianus

Every zoo has animals that come in from the surrounding city or countryside. They aren't caged, they simply take advantage of the protection and resources (food, water, shelter) that a zoo provides. At San Francisco Zoo I noticed the gulls; at Honolulu it was black-crowned night-herons. Zoos worldwide have rats and mice, house sparrows and starlings, pigeons and mallards. At Franklin Park Zoo there are cottontails. The native rabbit of the east coast of North America can be seen furtively chewing clover in a yard in front of an exhibit building, or lounging under the knotweed, much more confident than a country rabbit that worries about dogs and other troubles.

The eastern cottontail was featured in the 365 urban species project.

On this day in 365 urban species: cucumbertree.