Swamp Rabbit With A Plant Hanging From Its Mouth

Swamp Rabbit Surprise at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge

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For years, I’ve spent time photographing swamp rabbits in Arkansas, but this spring brought something new. I finally added the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma to my swamp rabbit list. My first encounter happened near the Sandtown parking area, and to my surprise, I saw the same rabbit multiple times over different visits. Another sighting at Goss Slough sealed the deal: swamp rabbits are officially part of my Sequoyah experiences.

A swamp rabbit sits alert in tall green grass at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, photographed with a telephoto lens.
Swamp rabbit foraging near Sandtown at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, captured with a Canon EOS R7 and RF 100–500mm lens.

It’s remarkable, really. I’ve been visiting Sequoyah since 2007, a refuge built on rich wetland habitat, and only now did these rabbits reveal themselves. Swamp rabbits are known for their aquatic tendencies, and one of my future photography goals is to capture one swimming. With their strong swimming skills, they are perfectly adapted for marshes and floodplains.

Close-up of a swamp rabbit near Goss Slough, showing its yellow-tinged fur and cinnamon-colored ring around the eye.
Swamp rabbit sighting near Goss Slough, highlighting its distinctive cinnamon eye ring and coarse fur.

Wildlife Notes: Spotting Swamp Rabbits in Oklahoma

Compared to their cottontail cousins, swamp rabbits stand out in several ways:

  • Size Matters: At 3 to 6 pounds, they’re bulkier than cottontails, which average 2 to 3 pounds.
  • Habitat Choice: Swamps, marshes, and floodplains are their home, unlike cottontails, which favor drier brush.
  • Physical Traits: Shorter ears, coarser fur with yellow tinges, and a cinnamon ring around their eyes set them apart.
  • Water Skills: Swamp rabbits swim with ease, a trick cottontails don’t share.
  • Breeding Behavior: Populations breed in sync, unlike the scattered timing of cottontails.

If you’re wandering Sequoyah, don’t overlook the grassy edges and wet areas. These quiet, heavy-bodied rabbits could be closer than you think.

Photography Notes: Capturing the Elusive Swamp Rabbit

Swamp rabbits are tricky to photograph. They blend into the dense green vegetation and tend to freeze at the first sign of disturbance. For these shots, patience was everything. I stayed near the edge of the habitat, letting the rabbit settle back into its natural behavior before pressing the shutter.

  • Camera Gear: A telephoto lens in the 400 to 600mm range worked best, keeping me far enough not to spook the rabbit while still capturing fine details.
  • Settings: A fast shutter speed (1/1000 or higher) ensured sharpness when the rabbit shifted or nibbled. Wide apertures around f/5.6 helped blur the background, isolating the rabbit against the grasses.
  • Challenges: Harsh midday light made the fur tones tricky. Early morning or late afternoon gave softer light and truer colors.
  • Tip for Others: Look for movement in the grass rather than expecting a clear view. Rabbits often reveal themselves only when they pause to feed.

Photo Details (First Image)

  • Camera: Canon EOS R7
  • Lens: Canon RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 L IS USM
  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Shutter Speed: 1/1000
  • ISO: 3200

The two images above highlight the swamp rabbit’s alert but relaxed stance while grazing. The subtle details, the fur texture, the mouthful of green, tell as much of the story as the environment itself.

Swamp rabbits are more than oversized cottontails. They’re semi-aquatic survivors with fascinating habits that reward patience and close observation. Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge is proving to be an excellent place to find and photograph them, and I’ll be back, hoping next time to catch one mid-swim.