The black @-@ tailed jackrabbit can occupy a wide range of habitats as long as diversity in plant species exist . It require mixed grasses , forbs , and shrubs for food , and shrubs or small trees for cover . It prefer moderately open areas without dense understory growth and is seldom found in closed @-@ canopy habitats . For example , in California , black @-@ tailed jackrabbits are plentiful in open chamise ( Ademostoma fasciculatum ) and Ceanothus spp. chaparral interspersed with grasses , but do not occupy closed @-@ canopy chaparral . Similarly , the black @-@ tailed jackrabbit occupy clearcuts and early seral coniferous forest , but not closed @-@ canopy coniferous forest .