Captive wild cottontail rabbits prefer red clover over birdsfoot trefoil as food. In a study comparing four legumes, cottontails ate red clover the most, followed by alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, and ladino clover. Juvenile rabbits gained weight on red clover and lost weight on birdsfoot trefoil. In field observations, cottontails and woodchucks did not eat birdsfoot trefoil in pastures. Previous reports suggest that birdsfoot trefoil is less palatable for livestock compared to other legumes.