 Did you know that jackrabbits are not actually rabbits at all, but in the hare family? The difference between hares and rabbits is that hares are born fully furred with their eyes open and able to hop shortly after birth. Rabbits like cottontails are born blind, hairless, and helpless. Jackrabbits got their names from their long ears and used to be called jackass rabbits. Mark Twain made the name famous in his book Roughing It. The name was shortened to jackrabbits. Rabbits have long back legs and can be very fast reaching up to 40 miles per hour. When they are surprised they jump like a kangaroo. You may not see jackrabbits very often because they are active at night. Jackrabbits have a gray coat in the summer which turns white in the winter. Jackrabbits are very prolific. They can have several litters per year with one to six young per litter. This proliferation, in combination with consuming over a pound of grasses, shrubs, or bark each day can cause a lot of crop damage. Jackrabbits are considered predators and can be hunted year-round without a license. So next time you see those long ears hopping down the road it's likely to be a mischievous jackrabbit. From the University of Wyoming Extension I'm Mae Smith, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.