Desert conttontails chase and jump (screenshot from AZ Desert Critters on YouTube)

22 December 2025

When I wrote Where the Rabbits Are in Winter several of you mentioned jumping rabbits. I looked for videos and found this!

An AZ (Arizona) Desert Critters trail cam captured the antics of two desert cottontails.

Why do cottontail rabbits do this?

• In courtship: When a male is courting a female he rushes at her and she jumps straight up. If he’s really interested in her he’ll spray urine. You have to be a female cottontail to appreciate this.
• For dominance: Rabbits are territorial about food so when two cottontails of the same sex want the same territory, they chase each other.

Fun Fact:

Cottontails are rarely found foraging for food on windy days, because the wind interferes with their hearing capabilities. Hearing incoming predators before they get close enough to attack is their primary defense mechanism.

And that’s how a great horned owl sneaks up on them on silent wings.