A cottontail is a type of small rabbit with a distinctive fluffy white tail that looks like a cotton ball. When a cottontail hops away, that bright white tail bobs up and down, making it easy to spot even as the rest of the rabbit blends into the grass and bushes.

Cottontails live throughout North America, from backyards and parks to forests and meadows. Unlike the larger jackrabbits with their huge ears, cottontails are compact and quick, about the size of a house cat. They're most active at dawn and dusk, munching on grass, clover, and garden vegetables (which is why gardeners sometimes get frustrated with them).

The most common species is the eastern cottontail, but several other cottontail species live in different parts of the continent. These wild rabbits aren't the same as domestic pet rabbits, though they're related. Cottontails build simple nests in shallow depressions in the ground rather than deep burrows, and their babies are born with fur and can move around within days.

The name comes from that signature tail, which can serve as a warning signal. When a cottontail spots danger, it flashes its white tail as it zigzags away, possibly alerting other rabbits nearby or confusing predators trying to follow its path.