Legality
The New England Cottontail rabbit is currently a candidate for protection under the endangered Species Protection Act. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, "candidate species are plants and animals for which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has sufficient information on their biological status and threats to propose them as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but for which development of a proposed
listing regulation is precluded by other higher priority listing activities."
This means that currently, the New England Cottontail rabbit has no legal protection specifically designated for endangered species. It is important that the process of getting this protection is completed as quickly as possible. This species needs protection from hunting and habitat destruction especially.
The New England Cottontail rabbit is currently a candidate for protection under the endangered Species Protection Act. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, "candidate species are plants and animals for which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has sufficient information on their biological status and threats to propose them as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but for which development of a proposed
listing regulation is precluded by other higher priority listing activities."
This means that currently, the New England Cottontail rabbit has no legal protection specifically designated for endangered species. It is important that the process of getting this protection is completed as quickly as possible. This species needs protection from hunting and habitat destruction especially.
Endangered Status
There are 17 different species of cottontail rabbit distributed in different regions of the Americas. This includes Sylvilagus transitionalis, the New England Cottontail. The New England Cottontail is on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable. Data on these populations is usually provided by hunting and trapping. This range map (left) shows the historical range of the New England Cottontail outlined by the black dotted line. There have been five sub-populations confirmed, circled in red, and all separated from one another by urban or suburban barriers. In these five regions where the New England Cottontail previously made up 15-20% of the cottontail rabbit population, it now makes up less than 10% of the cottontail rabbits. This makes it incredibly rare, even in regions where it is found. |
Identification
Unfortunately, it is quite literally impossible to identify whether a rabbit is a New England Cottontail or an Eastern Cottontail without genetic testing. There are some clues though. New England Cottontails are the smaller of the two, with shorter ears than their cousins. These ears usually have a black ridge marking the outer edge of the ear - but not always. They also usually have a black spot on top of their head - but not always.
Unfortunately, it is quite literally impossible to identify whether a rabbit is a New England Cottontail or an Eastern Cottontail without genetic testing. There are some clues though. New England Cottontails are the smaller of the two, with shorter ears than their cousins. These ears usually have a black ridge marking the outer edge of the ear - but not always. They also usually have a black spot on top of their head - but not always.
Eastern Cottontails are larger, with longer ears that will sometimes have the same black markings on the outer edge of the ear as the New England species. Eastern Cottontails will also sometimes have the black spot on their head that is usually characteristic of the New England Cottontail.
There is one trait that is unique to the Eastern species. About half of these bunnies may have a white spot on their head, which the New England Cottontails never have. However, it is said to last only until about two weeks of age. There is no visual difference between adults of the two species. It's the behavior that is most indicative of their lineage. The Eastern Cottontail is comfortable in a slightly different habitat than the rare New England rabbits. They are willing to venture out into open fields and backyards in plain sight, away from cover. A New England rabbit would almost never do such a thing. They maintain a reclusive attitude, barely peeking out of the bushes at best. |
Invasive Introduction
There is very little information available about the history of the Eastern Cottontail population. According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, this species was introduced to the New England states from the early 1900s through the 1960s so that hunting clubs would have more game rabbits to hunt for sport, fur and meat. However, there aren't population counts available from that time period and so how and when exactly the Eastern Cottontail arrived in New England remains a bit vague. The change of the environment that allowed the Eastern Cottontail to thrive, however, was directly caused by man. That is what makes the Eastern Cottontail's overbearing presence an unnatural one.
Hybridization
It's been considered that perhaps the two species of cottontail rabbit have been interbreeding, producing hybrids. Genetic testing has proved that this is definitely not the case, and there have never been any hybrids found in the wild. However, they have been able to produce viable young when crossed in captivity. This means that even if we can't tell the rabbit species apart, they can. When animal populations could interbreed, and don't, it is called a behavioral barrier that helps to separate them into different species.
Habitat Loss
Due to their slightly smaller stature and shorter ears, the New England cottontail is at a higher risk of predation than their Eastern cousins. For this reason, they prefer to remain hidden under thick brush, surrounded by shrubbery and thicket. This type of environment is best provided by a young New England forest, or one with young trees in it. Generally, the forest should be less than 25 years old.
This type of habitat is now much more difficult to find than it was prior to European settlement. Many forests have been cleared and replaced with farmland, others have been developed into urban or suburban communities. The original farmland that was cultivated in the early 1900s that was abandoned and left to grow back as forests, are now much older than 25 years and the large trees do not allow for the shrubby underbrush environment that the New England Cottontail needs.
In addition, there are some newly introduced plant species that are competing with the rabbits' food source. The rabbits are also competing for food with deer, whose populations have increased. Because of all of these factors in combination, the New England Cottontail, among several other thicket-dwelling native species, are struggling.
There is very little information available about the history of the Eastern Cottontail population. According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, this species was introduced to the New England states from the early 1900s through the 1960s so that hunting clubs would have more game rabbits to hunt for sport, fur and meat. However, there aren't population counts available from that time period and so how and when exactly the Eastern Cottontail arrived in New England remains a bit vague. The change of the environment that allowed the Eastern Cottontail to thrive, however, was directly caused by man. That is what makes the Eastern Cottontail's overbearing presence an unnatural one.
Hybridization
It's been considered that perhaps the two species of cottontail rabbit have been interbreeding, producing hybrids. Genetic testing has proved that this is definitely not the case, and there have never been any hybrids found in the wild. However, they have been able to produce viable young when crossed in captivity. This means that even if we can't tell the rabbit species apart, they can. When animal populations could interbreed, and don't, it is called a behavioral barrier that helps to separate them into different species.
Habitat Loss
Due to their slightly smaller stature and shorter ears, the New England cottontail is at a higher risk of predation than their Eastern cousins. For this reason, they prefer to remain hidden under thick brush, surrounded by shrubbery and thicket. This type of environment is best provided by a young New England forest, or one with young trees in it. Generally, the forest should be less than 25 years old.
This type of habitat is now much more difficult to find than it was prior to European settlement. Many forests have been cleared and replaced with farmland, others have been developed into urban or suburban communities. The original farmland that was cultivated in the early 1900s that was abandoned and left to grow back as forests, are now much older than 25 years and the large trees do not allow for the shrubby underbrush environment that the New England Cottontail needs.
In addition, there are some newly introduced plant species that are competing with the rabbits' food source. The rabbits are also competing for food with deer, whose populations have increased. Because of all of these factors in combination, the New England Cottontail, among several other thicket-dwelling native species, are struggling.
Captive Breeding
The animals in the image (above) are members of the captive breeding program at Roger Williams Park Zoo (not on exhibit). They are New England Cottontails - adults are referred to as rabbits, juveniles are known as "bunnies". This program is the result of cooperation between the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Environmental Management, the University of Rhode Island, and the Wildlife Management Institute. The plan is to release these animals into suitable habitat in the wild.
There are already several programs such as this in place in the New England states that are working hard to preserve the endangered cottontail species, with or without official protection. Though these programs are vitally important, they would have much more of an impact if more natural habitat were available to release their animals into. So far though, releasing the rabbits into the habitat they have left has been very successful.
Statistics
-New England Cottontails have a black spot on their head 90% of the time.
-Eastern Cottontails have a black spot on their head 40% of the time.
-Eastern Cottontails have a white spot on their head 43% of the time.
-New England Cottontails have a black ridge on their ears 95% of the time.
-Eastern Cottontails have a black ridge on their ears 40% of the time.
-The New England Cottontail population has declined 86% in the past 50 years (since 1960).
-In 2013, the State of Connecticut restored 57 acres of habitat specifically for the New England Cottontail.
-A female New England Cottontail usually has 3 to 4 young per litter and 24 young annually.
-Typically, New England rabbits won't venture more than 5 meters away from cover.
-About 15% of New England rabbits survive their first year in the wild.
-The average lifespan for a New England Cottontail is about 3 years.
-The home range for a rabbit of the New England species can range from 0.25 to 18.77 acres, though most are 0.25 acres due to the amount of the available habitat.
-There have been at least 47 other species identified that will benefit from the restoration of the same habitat suitable for the New England Cottontail.
My Personal View
I strongly SUPPORT the conservation of the New England Cottontail as an endangered species. I believe that when humans disturb the natural environment, in this case by destroying habitat, we are obligated to compensate for our impact. We are the reason that the New England Cottontail has become homeless and we are the reason its niche is being filled by a different species. Therefore, we need to be responsible for restoring enough habitat to sustain a healthy population of New England Cottontails. I hope the candidacy is approved quickly and this rabbit species is given the full protection it deserves as a native resident of this region.
The animals in the image (above) are members of the captive breeding program at Roger Williams Park Zoo (not on exhibit). They are New England Cottontails - adults are referred to as rabbits, juveniles are known as "bunnies". This program is the result of cooperation between the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Environmental Management, the University of Rhode Island, and the Wildlife Management Institute. The plan is to release these animals into suitable habitat in the wild.
There are already several programs such as this in place in the New England states that are working hard to preserve the endangered cottontail species, with or without official protection. Though these programs are vitally important, they would have much more of an impact if more natural habitat were available to release their animals into. So far though, releasing the rabbits into the habitat they have left has been very successful.
Statistics
-New England Cottontails have a black spot on their head 90% of the time.
-Eastern Cottontails have a black spot on their head 40% of the time.
-Eastern Cottontails have a white spot on their head 43% of the time.
-New England Cottontails have a black ridge on their ears 95% of the time.
-Eastern Cottontails have a black ridge on their ears 40% of the time.
-The New England Cottontail population has declined 86% in the past 50 years (since 1960).
-In 2013, the State of Connecticut restored 57 acres of habitat specifically for the New England Cottontail.
-A female New England Cottontail usually has 3 to 4 young per litter and 24 young annually.
-Typically, New England rabbits won't venture more than 5 meters away from cover.
-About 15% of New England rabbits survive their first year in the wild.
-The average lifespan for a New England Cottontail is about 3 years.
-The home range for a rabbit of the New England species can range from 0.25 to 18.77 acres, though most are 0.25 acres due to the amount of the available habitat.
-There have been at least 47 other species identified that will benefit from the restoration of the same habitat suitable for the New England Cottontail.
My Personal View
I strongly SUPPORT the conservation of the New England Cottontail as an endangered species. I believe that when humans disturb the natural environment, in this case by destroying habitat, we are obligated to compensate for our impact. We are the reason that the New England Cottontail has become homeless and we are the reason its niche is being filled by a different species. Therefore, we need to be responsible for restoring enough habitat to sustain a healthy population of New England Cottontails. I hope the candidacy is approved quickly and this rabbit species is given the full protection it deserves as a native resident of this region.
14th of June, 2014
Updated 6th of August 2014
Updated 6th of August 2014