Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: JACKRABBIT, WHITE-TAILED

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: MAMMALIA

Order: LAGOMORPHA

Family: LEPORIDAE

Genus: LEPUS

Species: TOWNSENDII

SubSpecies: CAMPANIUS

Taxonomic Authority: HOLLISTER

Taxonomy References: 001

Status

NONGAME
EXTIRPATED
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 003 , 006 , 012

Habitat Summary

"Occur in open and shrubby grassland and in crop fields."

Primary Habitat: "Grassland(matrix)"

References: 002

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Is considered extirpated. Only 2 county records during the past 30 years *06*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
ANDREW ADAIR
ATCHISON AUDRAIN
BUCHANAN BARRY
CALDWELL BARTON
CLINTON BATES
DAVIESS BENTON
DEKALB BOLLINGER
GENTRY BOONE
GRUNDY BUTLER
HARRISON CALLAWAY
HOLT CAMDEN
LIVINGSTON CAPE GIRARDEAU
MERCER CARROLL
NODAWAY CARTER
WORTH CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GREENE
HENRY
HICKORY
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 002 , 006 , 007 , 009 , 013

Distribution by Watersheds

Comments: "Have been only two county records of occurrence during the past 30 years *06*"

Distribution by Ecoregions

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Aquatic Associations:

References for Aquatic Associations:

Habitat Types:

Cereal Grain
Perennial Grass (Warm season)
Perennial Grass (cool-season)
Shrub-Grass
Legumes (Tame)

References for Habitat Types: 004

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 004

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Herbivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Forbs; Roots
Shrubs; Bark
Shrubs; Branches/Twigs
Shrubs; Leaves/Needles
Forbs; Leaves/Needles
Shrubs; Fruit/Seeds
Forbs; Fruit/Seeds
Gramineae (grass); All of plant
Animal feces; Not Specified

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits 002 , 007

Adult Food Habits

Leguminosae (pea, bean, sweet clover); Bole/Stem
Wheat; Bole/Stem
Leguminosae (pea, bean, sweet clover); Leaves/Needles
Wheat; Leaves/Needles
Animal feces; Fruit/Seeds
Dicotyledoneae (dicots); All of plant
See comments on seasonal variation; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 002

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements:

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements:

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland
Successional stage: climax grassland

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 007

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland
Successional stage: climax grassland
Agricultural crops: small grains

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 007

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland
Successional stage: climax grassland
Agricultural crops: small grains

References for resting adult niche requirements: 007

Niche Requirement Summary

Agricultural crops: small grains
Successional stage: climax grassland
Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland

Life History Information

Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: grazing
Foraging strategy: browsing
Foraging sites: ground
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Mating system: promiscuity
Duration of pair bond: no pair bond formed
Nest/den site: depression
Nest materials: grasses
Nest materials: hair or feathers
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Number of broods/litters per year specified in comments(019)
Parental care of young: female
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)

References for life history: 002 , 008 , 011

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Shrub/brush - supplemental feeding (winter, spring, etc)
Shrub/brush - control grazing of domestic livestock
Agricultural - develop and maintain food plots
Agricultural - retention of crop residue over winter
Agricultural - no-till farming
Grassland - seasonal restriction of human use of habitats
Grassland - supplemental feeding (winter, spring, etc)
Grassland - control grazing of domestic livestock

Beneficial Management References: 007

Adverse Managment Practices:

Shrub/brush - application of herbicides
Shrub/brush - uncontrolled grazing of domestic livestock
Grassland - application of herbicides
Grassland - uncontrolled grazing of domestic livestock

Adverse Management References: 007

Comments on Management:
Decline in MO due to habitat deterioration and increase of predator populations. *02*

References for Management Comments: 002

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Hall, E.R. 1981. The Mammals Of North America, 2nd Ed. John Wiley And Sons, Inc. New York. 1181pp.
002 Schwartz, C.W. and E.R. Schwartz. 1981. The Wild Mammals Of Missouri 2nd Ed. Univ. Of Missouri Press And Mo Dept. Of Conservation, Columbia, Mo. 356 Pp.
003 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
005 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
006 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
007 Unpb Sadler, K.C. Mo Dept. Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo. 65201. (573)882-9880
008 James, T.R. and R.E. Seabloom. 1969. Reproductive Biology Of The White-Tailed Jack Rabbit In North Dakota. J. Wildl. Manage. 33(3): 558-568.
009 Unpb Elder, W.H. 112 Stephens Hall, Umccolumbia, Mo 65211. (573) 882-3436.
010 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
011 Rogowitz, G.L. 1992. Reproduction Of White-Tailed Jackrabbits On Semi-Arid Range. J. Wildl. Manage. 56(4):676-684.
012 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2001. Missouri Species Of Conservation Concern. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, Jefferson City, Mo. Xi + 28 Pp.
013 UNPB Shelby Timm. MDC Mammal Database. Missouri Dept. of Conservation, Ellington Office. 2929 County Rd 618, Ellington, MO 63638/