What humans have got wrong about hares & rabbits

When a rabbit is a hare, and a hare is a rabbit

One of the biggest misconceptions about hares and rabbits is the use of the terms “jackrabbit” and “swamp hare”:

Jackrabbits are actually hares, not rabbits. There are two species of hares in North America that are commonly referred to as jackrabbits: the black-tailed jackrabbit and the white-tailed jackrabbit. These hares have distinctive long ears and legs, and they are known for their incredible speed.

Black-tailed jackrabbit by National Park Service is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Lepus townsendii White-tailed jackrabbit running on a snowy weather

On the other hand, swamp hares are a type of rabbit that live in wetland areas of southeastern USA. They have adapted to their environment by developing large hind feet that help them move through mud and water. Swamp hares also have shorter ears than most other rabbits.