Sylvilagus palustris                                                  Photo Barry Mansell ©

As its name suggests, the marsh rabbit is found only in marshy habitats, where water is plentiful. The marsh rabbit is slightly smaller and darker than the eastern cottontail and its tail forms a brown tuft (no cottontail). In south Florida it is found in sawgrass marshes, sugar-cane fields, mangrove swamps, and on canal banks. Marsh rabbits take to water readily and swim well, often for considerable distances. They are most active at night and eat a variety of wetland plants including water hyacinth, grasses, cattail, rushes and herbs.

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