The marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) is a small cottontail rabbit found in marshes and swamps of coastal regions of the Eastern and Southern United States. It is a strong swimmer and found only near regions of water.

The marsh rabbit is a slightly smaller, darker version of the more familiar eastern cottontail rabbit, which is best known for its conspicuous cotton puff tail.

The marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris ) is a small cottontail rabbit found in marshes and swamps of coastal regions of the Eastern and Southern United States. It is a strong swimmer and found only near regions of water.

As the name implies, the marsh rabbit is found only in undisturbed marsh. They will inhabit salt and brackish marsh but prefer freshwater. Unlike other rabbits, their distribution is determined by the availability of water. Interestingly, the marsh rabbit is an excellent swimmer and often dives into water as a means of escape.

Marsh rabbits are quite secretive. They live in thick bottomlands and swamps and are active primarily at night. Marsh rabbits are medium-sized with coarse, dark brown fur, and smaller feet than many other species of rabbits.

Marsh rab­bits are medium-sized rab­bits with short, rounded ears and small feet. The head and tail is smaller than those of eas­ten cot­ton­tail rab­bits (Sylvi­la­gus flori­danus). Marsh rab­bits are dark …

Mar 5, 2025 · The Marsh Rabbit is a truly unique wild rabbit breed. If you ever have the good fortune to see them in their natural habitats in the American Southeast, you’ll no doubt be delighted at their frolicking and swimming.

Marsh rabbits range from the coastal plains of North Carolina south to Alabama. They are abundant in marsh and bottomlands, in both brackish tidal marshes and wooded flood plains common to the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Marsh rabbits are the only mammal in the Bay region that is restricted to marshes and swamps. They are excellent swimmers that will often dive underwater to escape from predators. Marsh rabbits are emi-aquatic, spending time both on the land and in the water. They usually live alone and are nocturnal.

A relatively small-sized rabbit measuring 16 inches long and weighing between two and five pounds. They have dark chestnut colored fur, bluish-gray tail, and conspicuous claws on the hind feet.