Where Have All The NEW ENGLAND COTTONTAIL Gone?

Many people are perplexed when I tell them the New England Cottontail was identified in 2006 as a candidate species for Federal listing under the United States Endangered species Act.

“How can that be?…don’t cottontail reproduce…well, like rabbits are famous for?”

While cottontail can average 2-3 litters per season, the survival rate is low particularly if they do not have the proper habitat to protect them from predation and the food, water and space to support a healthy population.

When we think of land and habitat conservation, we often think of protecting our forests, and protecting our waterways, but there is a habitat that is often misunderstood as irrelevant. Fragmentation of Early Successional Habitat (young forest, thickets, and shrubland) is often the result of urban sprawl and development. This type of habitat is critical not only to the survival of the New England Cottontail, but to many other species as well.

Due largely to urban sprawl, there has been an 86 PERCENT decline in the historical range of the New England cottontail. If Urban sprawl continues, we may see an average addition decline of 2% per year.

While the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and other local conservation groups are taking active steps to increase and protect this type of habitat, it is largely up to private landowners and communities to step up and help out. The New England cottontail is only native to our small part of the world,  so we ‘New Englanders’ have a global responsibility to save this species from being listed as endangered!

Join Trumbull Nature & Arts Center, and presenting sponsor Trumbull Rotary Club on May 18, 1-4pm, for “ENDANGERED SPECIES IN YOUR BACKYARD’ and learn more about what we can do as a community to protect the New England Cottontail, and other local species.Representatives from DEEP and TNAC will be speaking on the subject, and on hand to answer questions, ‘Animals on the Go’, will present LIVE local endangered species, we will launch a cottontail ‘Art in public places’ scavenger hunt program, children’s activities, ‘habitat helper’ plant give-a-way and more! Fun for families, children and individuals of all ages! Scout troops welcome! To register, go to www.patronsoftnac.com, or for more information call 203-452-4421. Space is limited so register today! A special Thank you to local campaign sponsors; Trumbull Rotary Club, Sun Products, and LUSH Cosmetics