Brush rabbit

Scientific name: Sylvilagus bachmani

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small rabbit with dark grayish-brown fur, a small inconspicuous white tail, and relatively short ears. Distinguishable from other rabbits by compact size and preference for staying low in dense brush rather than in open areas.

Size and weight

Adults weigh 0.7–1.0 kg; body length 30–35 cm. Sexual dimorphism is minimal.

Habitat

Brush rabbits inhabit dense chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and brushy foothill terrain with thick low vegetation for cover. They prefer areas with slopes and broken ground from sea level to approximately 1,500 m elevation.

Distribution

Endemic to coastal California and the Sierra Nevada foothills, ranging from Kern County north to Sonoma County. Strongly habitat-restricted to areas with adequate brush density.

Diet

Herbivorous, feeding on fresh green vegetation, clover, and tender shoots in spring and summer; shifts to woody browse, dried grasses, and bark in fall and winter.

Behaviour

Most active during dawn and dusk (crepuscular), solitary or in loose pairs; spend most time within dense brush where they run short distances when flushed. They create and maintain a network of runs and hideouts within their small home range.

Hunting tips

Look for small droppings and worn trails through dense brush indicating active routes. Approach slowly through or along brush edges during early morning or late afternoon, listening and watching for movement. Move deliberately through thick cover and pause frequently to locate animals before they bolt; shots are typically close-range within or just beyond brush margins.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

United States

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.