Editing Cottontail rabbit (section)

== Eating mechanics ==
In contrast to [[rodent]]s, which generally sit on their hind legs and hold food with their front paws while feeding, cottontail rabbits eat while on all fours. Cottontail rabbits typically only use their nose to move and adjust the position of the food that it places directly in front of its front paws on the ground. The cottontail will turn the food with its nose to find the cleanest part of the vegetation (free of sand and inedible parts) to begin its meal. The only time a cottontail uses its front paws while feeding is when vegetation is above its head on a living plant, at which point the cottontail will lift its paw to bend the branch to bring the food within reach.<ref>{{cite web|title=Small mammals|url=http://www.jeffersoncountytrails.org/news-signs/SmallMammals2OCT11.pdf}}</ref>

Cottontails are rarely found foraging for food on windy days, because the wind interferes with their hearing capabilities. Hearing an incoming predator before they get close enough to attack is their primary defense mechanism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rabbits and Hares|date=22 April 2008 |url=http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/rabbit-info2.htm}}</ref>

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File:Juvenile Cottontail Rabbit.jpg| Juvenile cottontail standing in anticipation of food
File:15 for Dinner.jpg|Cottontails are very sociable animals within their peer group
File:Cottontail age comparison-2.jpg|Male desert cottontail at 8 weeks, and the same cottontail at 16 months of age
</gallery>