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Update: Research and Monitoring Activities For New England Cottontails in CT

Explore distribution trends, evaluate habitat restoration sites, and monitor populations of New England Cottontails in CT. Assess habitat features, stem counts, and fecal pellet collections to inform conservation efforts.

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Update: Research and Monitoring Activities For New England Cottontails in CT

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  1. 2013-2014 Field Season Update: Research and Monitoring Activities For New England Cottontails in CT 1 –Distribution Study 2 – Metapopulation 3 - Evaluate Habitat Restoration Sites 4 – Characterize Important habitat features 5 – EC removal study CT Wildlife Division

  2. The Management Issue • Sympatric, similar in appearance and habitat • Populations have declined (RI, VT, ME, NH – CT, NY, MA) • Candidate for Federal Listing – ESA (2015) • Regional Conservation Strategy 99% DNA (F or T) Skull Morphology 88% 1/3?

  3. 1. Distribution 2000-2014 New Towns = 5 Bethlehem+Bethel -2014 New Towns 2013 N. Canaan Canterbury E. Lyme Total CT Towns (n=46)

  4. Changes in Distribution of EC in CT Historic (1930-1949) Current (2001-2010)

  5. Assess Habitat Restoration Sites: 2) Vegetative Response / NEC Use • Stem Counts: • -Pre and Post • 1-growing season (2012) • 3-growing seasons (2014) • -Stems –Every other year • -NEC use – Alternate years

  6. 2. Stems Counts (2010, 2012, 2014) Pellet Collections - NEC Use (2013 + 2015) - (SWG 1; n=8) Cottontail Surveys - Jan 2013: 4 of 8 sites (n=12 - EC) Marginal habitat

  7. 3 years later . . . • >96,000 stems/ha • NEC use after 4 growing seasons???

  8. Stem Counts (n = 10) Fall 2013: Spignesi (SWGII) - baseline Pachaug (SWGII) - baseline Bear Hill (SWGII) – 1 growing season Spring 2014: Pease Brook (SWGII)- baseline Sessions Woods – after 1 growing season Roraback (SWG II) – after 1 growing season Zemco pond – After 3 growing season Roraback 1,1a,2,2a – After 3 growing season Housatonic North&SouthGoshen 1,2 – After 3 growing season Camp Columbia 1,2 – After 3 growing season

  9. 1- UNH (Metapop) 2014 74 patches in 17 grids 260 samples 3. Fecal Pellet Collections -Metapopulation Dynamics/Distribution 1-km radius plots 5 NEC Focus Areas in SE CT Systematically sampling • Habitat Class • Dominant Vegetation

  10. Interesting finding Powerline 5 mile, 3 towns, 20 samples - Continued Surveying Powerline in 2014 - Potential Importance

  11. Power line ROW Managed Connected Dispersal

  12. Persistent Shrubs

  13. 4. Used Beagle ID Daytime resting cover & escape cover(Year 1) • Objective: • Importance of Vegetation vs Structure vs underground • NEC vs EC • Methods: • Radio collars - Rabbit HR, CA • Flush (Daytime cover) • Dog (Escape cover) Study site: Nichols patch = 40 acres. Min Capture = 59 rabbit Mark-Recap Est = 80 rabbits (2 rabbits per Acre)

  14. Daytime resting cover - Preliminary 72% 28%

  15. Habitat Measurements Escape & Resting Cover Obstruction (0.5 m intervals – 2 m) Basal Areas

  16. 5. Can we increase NEC pop by manipulating EC pop ??

  17. July 2014 Update

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