The Eastern cottontail rabbit is found throughout most of Alabama. Swamp rabbits, marsh rabbits and the New England cottontail are also found in Alabama, but the Eastern cottontail is the most abundant and widely distributed. Its adaptability to a variety of habitats and high reproductive capability makes it an important game species in Alabama.

As veteran hunters already know, the rabbit is primarily known as an "edge" species. An edge species prefers the area where two or more different habitat types meet, for example, where field meets forest.

The typical cottontail spends its entire life within an area of about 10 acres. Brushy fencerows and thickets, hayfields, wetland edges, young pine stands, thinned mature pine stands, and ditch banks are all prime rabbit habitats. Good cover may be the greatest single factor that can affect rabbit populations, since a rabbit on open ground is an easy dinner for predators. Also, cover also meets the essentials of feeding, nesting and protection from cold winter weather.

The answer to the question of the best public hunting land for rabbits is relatively simple. Virtually all WMAs offer at least some opportunity. Since rabbits prefer early succession habitat, getting in touch with the local experts can point you to these regions on the WMAs. Contact the regional DWFF office and ask which WMAs in your area they recommend based on current management strategies. Areas dominated by mature stands of timber are going to be lower on the list, while areas that have more early-succession habitat are going to be the best hunting.

Squirrels
Squirrels are probably the most common game species in Alabama. If you can reach down, pick up a stick and throw it in a forested area, chances are you could hit a squirrel tree. Anywhere there are trees, there are squirrels, whether that is a downtown park or the most rugged portion of the Sipsey Wilderness Area.

Two species of squirrels in Alabama are of interest to hunters. The gray squirrel is the most common. It is a medium-sized squirrel covered with gray hairs that are white at the tips. Its back and neck are a darker gray with a white or lighter gray along the belly. The tail is long, flat and bushy.

The gray squirrel prefers oak and hickory forests, often mixed with pines and other hardwoods. They commonly eat acorns, hickory nuts, pine seeds and fruits.

Gray squirrels spend most of their time in the relative safety of the treetops unless gathering food or engaging in mating chases, especially in the early morning and late evening when they are most active.

Another squirrel species of interest to Alabama hunters is the fox squirrel. A little larger than grays, the fox squirrel weighs approximately 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. The color of their coats varies, but is usually some variation on rusty yellow with gray along the back and neck. The belly is mostly a pale yellow to orange and the feet and nose are a yellowish-brown to rusty orange. In some areas of the state, this species can be black or silver.

The fox squirrel prefers upland forests of predominately open stands of oak, hickory and mixtures of pine and hardwoods. Interestingly, fox squirrels are less agile climbers than gray squirrels and spend much more time on the ground, especially during their prime activity times of midmorning and midday to late afternoon.