iN PHOTOS: Penticton photographer gets pics of speedy cottontail rabbits

Penticton wildlife photographer Jodi Forster captured photos of some mountain cottontail rabbits on a section of the KVR Trail on the Naramata Bench recently, but it wasn’t easy.

“I think I saw at least three at different parts of the trail in front of me, they’re so cute and so quick, it’s not easy to get a picture of them,” she said.

“They’re fast, I’ll be walking along and see one on the trail and then it’s gone.”

A mountain cottontail rabbit hops away from a photographer on the KVR Trail in the South Okanagan. iNFOnews.ca/ Jodi Forster

Growing up exploring the wilderness with her brother, Forster has a lifelong love of nature and regularly walks the Penticton Channel with her camera to snap photos of birds she shares in social media groups.

“I’m a hobbyist photographer and I love sharing my wildlife photos with others, we live in a beautiful place,” Forster said.

The mountain cottontail is a small rabbit found in the South Okanagan and Similkameen valleys in forests and shrubby areas where they shelter in burrows or rock crevices.

They tend to be loners and will run, hide and freeze when spooked, according to Animalia, if pursed they hop in a semicircular path in an attempt to trick the predator.

The furry critters snack on sagebrush and grasses in the warm months, and juniper and woody plants in the winter.

The breeding season varies but typically occurs during spring and summer, and they will raise 2 to 5 litters per year.

If you have cool wildlife photos to share, send them to news@infonews.ca

This mountain cottontail rabbit lives in the South Okanagan. iNFOnews.ca/ Jodi Forster

A rabbit sits in the long grass in the South Okanagan. iNFOnews.ca/ Jodi Forster

This mountain cottontail rabbit in the South Okanagan appears to be camera shy. iNFOnews.ca/ Jodi Forster