DOCSLIB.ORG

A Scientific Basis for Managing Northern Goshawk Breeding Areas

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Scientific Basis for Managing Northern Goshawk Breeding Areas Science-Based Guidelines for Managing Special Issue Northern Goshawk Breeding Areas in Coastal British Columbia Erica L. McClaren , MSc, RPBio, Todd Mahon , MSc, RPBio, Frank I. Doyle , MSc, RPBio, & William L. Harrower, MSc, RPBio Abstract Northern Goshawks ( Accipiter gentilis laingi ) have been recognized as a species of man - agement concern in western North America for over 20 years. One of the most significant factors threatening Northern Goshawk populations in coastal British Columbia is the loss and fragmentation of structurally old and mature forests they use for breeding, foraging, and roosting. The goal of this report is to provide science-based guidelines for qualified environmental professonals to assist in their decision-making processes concerning Northern Goshawk habitat management in coastal British Columbia. These guidelines were previously unavailable or inconsistent and did not provide a thorough review of the scientific literature. The best management practices presented here are intended for use by qualified environmental professonals and managers when undertaking industrial activ - ities, primarily forestry, around Northern Goshawk breeding areas within coastal British Columbia. KEYWORDS : Accipiter gentilis laingi ; best management practices; breeding area; breeding habitat; coastal British Columbia; disturbance; foraging habitat; forest management; oc - cupancy; management guidelines; nesting habitat; northern goshawk; post-fledging area; reserve size; risk; science guidelines; territory; timing restrictions 1 JEM McClaren, E.L., T. Mahon, F.I. Doyle, and W.L. Harrower. 2015. Science-Based Guidelines for Managing Vol 15, No 2 Northern Goshawk Breeding Areas in Coastal British Columbia. Journal of Ecosystems and Management 15 (2):1–91. Published by the Journal of Ecosystems and Management: JOURNAL OF Ecosystems & http://jem-online.org/index.php/jem/article/viewFile/576/506 Management Location of accompanying documentation SCIENCE-BASED GUIDELINES Further information on individual studies, projects, or supplemental information used in FOR MANAGING this report is available upon request directly from the report authors. NORTHERN GOSHAWK BREEDING AREAS McClaren, Mahon, Doyle, & Harrower Table of Contents Abstract ...............................................................................................................................1 Executive Summary ...........................................................................................................4 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................6 1.1 Distribution ..............................................................................................................7 1.2 Ranking status ..........................................................................................................8 1.3 Regulatory framework ..............................................................................................9 1.3.1 International ..........................................................................................................9 1.3.2 Federal ....................................................................................................................9 1.3.3 Provincial (British Columbia) .............................................................................10 2 Scope and Objectives .................................................................................................10 2.1 Science-based management ...................................................................................11 3 Long-term Studies on Coastal Goshawks .................................................................13 3.1 Vancouver Island ....................................................................................................13 3.2 Haida Gwaii .............................................................................................................15 3.3 Summary of other coastal goshawk study locations ............................................16 3.3.1 Mainland coastal British Columbia .....................................................................16 3.3.2 United States ........................................................................................................16 3.4 Analyses of coastal goshawk data to support these guidelines .............................16 4 Breeding Ecology of Coastal Goshawks ....................................................................17 4.1 Individual age .........................................................................................................17 4.2 Breeding chronology ..............................................................................................17 4.3 Productivity, occupancy, and survival ...................................................................18 4.4 Habitat characteristics ...........................................................................................19 4.5 Nest tree and breeding area spacing patterns .......................................................20 4.6 Foraging ..................................................................................................................20 5 Coastal Goshawk Territory Components ..................................................................21 5.1 Nest site and nest area characteristics ..................................................................25 5.2 Post-fledging area characteristics and fledgling movements ...............................30 5.3 Estimating the size of breeding areas in coastal British Columbia .....................32 5.4 Home range and foraging habitat ..........................................................................34 2 6 Responses of Coastal Goshawks to Breeding Area Disturbance .............................39 6.1 Direct disturbance ..................................................................................................39 6.2 Indirect disturbance from habitat alteration and loss within breeding areas .....41 JEM Vol 15, No 2 7 Other Sources of Variation in Breeding Area Occupancy and Reproduction .........45 JOURNAL OF 7.1 Individual quality ...................................................................................................45 Ecosystems & Management 7.2 Annual and longer-term weather patterns ............................................................46 SCIENCE-BASED GUIDELINES 7.3 Prey, predators, and competitors ...........................................................................46 FOR MANAGING NORTHERN GOSHAWK BREEDING AREAS 8 Best Management Practices for Coastal Goshawk Breeding Areas .........................47 8.1 Summary of best management practices for coastal goshawk breeding areas ...49 McClaren, Mahon, Doyle, & Harrower 8.2 Defining the breeding area ....................................................................................50 8.3 Reserve design ........................................................................................................52 8.4 Minimizing direct disturbance: timing restrictions .............................................53 8.5 Managing multiple breeding areas ........................................................................54 8.6 Foraging area considerations ................................................................................54 9 Strategic and Operational Planning Considerations ................................................56 9.1 Co-location of breeding area reserves ...................................................................56 9.2 Windthrow considerations in reserve design ........................................................59 9.3 Habitat quality evaluation: operational and strategic considerations .................59 9.4 Enhancing forest structure to promote goshawk habitat characteristics ...........60 10 Knowledge Gaps and Key Research Questions .........................................................61 11 Data Management ......................................................................................................64 Acknowledgements ...........................................................................................................65 Notes .................................................................................................................................66 References .........................................................................................................................67 Appendix 1: Glossary ........................................................................................................79 Appendix 2: Key to Abbreviations of Biogeoclimatic Subzones and Tree Species .........83 Appendix 3: Updated Analyses for Coastal Best Management Practices: Detailed Methodology ..................................................................................84 Appendix 4: Breeding Area Delineation and Monitoring ................................................87 Author Information ..........................................................................................................91 3 JEM Vol 15, No 2 JOURNAL OF Ecosystems & Management Executive Summary SCIENCE-BASED GUIDELINES he two subspecies of Northern Goshawks ( Accipiter gentilis atricapillus, Accipiter FOR MANAGING gentilis laingi ) occurring in western North America have been a management con - NORTHERN GOSHAWK BREEDING AREAS Tcern for over 20 years. One of the most significant factors threatening Northern Goshawk populations
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Educator's Guide
    Educator’s Guide the jill and lewis bernard family Hall of north american mammals inside: • Suggestions to Help You come prepared • essential questions for Student Inquiry • Strategies for teaching in the exhibition • map of the Exhibition • online resources for the Classroom • Correlations to science framework • glossary amnh.org/namammals Essential QUESTIONS Who are — and who were — the North as tundra, winters are cold, long, and dark, the growing season American Mammals? is extremely short, and precipitation is low. In contrast, the abundant precipitation and year-round warmth of tropical All mammals on Earth share a common ancestor and and subtropical forests provide optimal growing conditions represent many millions of years of evolution. Most of those that support the greatest diversity of species worldwide. in this hall arose as distinct species in the relatively recent Florida and Mexico contain some subtropical forest. In the past. Their ancestors reached North America at different boreal forest that covers a huge expanse of the continent’s times. Some entered from the north along the Bering land northern latitudes, winters are dry and severe, summers moist bridge, which was intermittently exposed by low sea levels and short, and temperatures between the two range widely. during the Pleistocene (2,588,000 to 11,700 years ago). Desert and scrublands are dry and generally warm through- These migrants included relatives of New World cats (e.g. out the year, with temperatures that may exceed 100°F and dip sabertooth, jaguar), certain rodents, musk ox, at least two by 30 degrees at night. kinds of elephants (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • WATERFOWL ___Cackling Goose
    WATERFOWL ____ Least Sandpiper FALCONS BUSHTITS ____ Pine Grosbeak ____ Cackling Goose ____ Wilson's Snipe ____ American Kestrel ____ Bushtit ____ House Finch ____ Canada Goose ____ Spotted Sandpiper ____ Merlin ____ Purple Finch NUTHATCHES ____ Wood Duck ____ Solitary Sandpiper ____ Peregrine Falcon ____ Red-breasted Nuthatch ____ Cassin’s Finch ____ Blue-winged Teal ____ Greater Yellowlegs ____ Prairie Falcon ____ White-breasted Nuthatch ____ Common Redpoll ____ Cinnamon Teal ____ Red Crossbill CORMORANTS FLYCATCHERS ____ Pygmy Nuthatch ____ Northern Shoveler ____ Double-crested Cormorant ____ Western Kingbird ____ Pine Siskin CREEPERS ____ Gadwall ____ Eastern Kingbird ____ American Goldfinch ____ American Wigeon PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS ____ Brown Creeper ____ Great Blue Heron ____ Olive-sided Flycatcher SPARROWS ____ Mallard ____ Western Wood-Pewee WRENS ____ Chipping Sparrow ____ Green-winged Teal VULTURES, RAPTORS ____ Willow Flycatcher ____ Rock Wren ____ Fox Sparrow ____ Ring-necked Duck ____ Turkey Vulture ____ Least Flycatcher ____ Canyon Wren ____ American Tree Sparrow ____ Harlequin Duck ____ Osprey ____ Hammond’s Flycatcher ____ House Wren ____ Dark-eyed Junco ____ Bufflehead ____ Golden Eagle ____ Gray Flycatcher ____ Pacific Wren ____ White-crowned Sparrow ____ Common Goldeneye ____ Northern Harrier ____ Dusky Flycatcher ____ Marsh Wren ____ Golden-crowned Sparrow ____ Barrow's Goldeneye ____ Sharp-shinned Hawk ____ Pacific-slope Flycatcher ____ Bewick’s Wren ____ White-throated Sparrow ____ Hooded Merganser ____ Cooper’s
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report
    2016 ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Annual Report 1 Our Mission Ohio Wildlife Center is dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of Ohio’s native wildlife through rehabilitation, education and wildlife health studies. Table of Contents Our Work The Center operates the state’s largest, free native 2 Our Mission and Work wildlife animal hospital, which assessed and treated 3 Message from the Board Chair 4,525 wildlife patients from 54 Ohio counties in 2016. Now a statewide leader in wildlife animal rescue and and Executive Director rehabilitation, the Center includes a 20-acre outdoor 4 2016 Fast Facts for Wildlife Hospital Education Center and Pre-Release Facility in Delaware County. The free Wildlife Hospital is located in the lower 5 2016 Fast Facts for Education level of Animal Care Unlimited at 2661 Billingsley 6 Foundation Grants and Partnerships Road in Columbus. 7 Volunteer Impact A focal point of the Education Center is the permanent sanctuary for 59 animals, ranging from coyote and fox 8 The Barbara and Bill Bonner Family to hawks, owls, raccoons, turtles and a turkey. There Foundation Barn are 42 species represented and seven animal ambassador 9 Power of Partnerships species listed as threatened or species of concern in Ohio. 10 2016 Events The Pre-Release Facility is comprised of multiple flight enclosures, a waterfowl enclosure, a songbird aviary, 11 Financials and species-specific outdoor housing designed to 12 Wildlife Hospital Admissions support the final phase of rehabilitation for recovering hospital patients. Animals reside at the Pre-Release 14 Board of Trustees Facility with care and oversight as they acclimate to the 15 Thank you! elements.
    [Show full text]
  • Cottontail Rabbits
    Cottontail Rabbits Biology of Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.) as Prey of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Western United States Photo Credit, Sky deLight Credit,Photo Sky Cottontail Rabbits Biology of Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.) as Prey of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Western United States U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regions 1, 2, 6, and 8 Western Golden Eagle Team Front Matter Date: November 13, 2017 Disclaimer The reports in this series have been prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Western Golden Eagle Team (WGET) for the purpose of proactively addressing energy-related conservation needs of golden eagles in Regions 1, 2, 6, and 8. The team was composed of Service personnel, sometimes assisted by contractors or outside cooperators. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Suggested Citation Hansen, D.L., G. Bedrosian, and G. Beatty. 2017. Biology of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.) as prey of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the western United States. Unpublished report prepared by the Western Golden Eagle Team, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Available online at: https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/87137 Acknowledgments This report was authored by Dan L. Hansen, Geoffrey Bedrosian, and Greg Beatty. The authors are grateful to the following reviewers (in alphabetical order): Katie Powell, Charles R. Preston, and Hillary White. Cottontails—i Summary Cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.; hereafter, cottontails) are among the most frequently identified prey in the diets of breeding golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the western United States (U.S.).
    [Show full text]
  • 11 Blue Grouse
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Grouse and Quails of North America, by Paul A. Johnsgard Papers in the Biological Sciences May 2008 11 Blue Grouse Paul A. Johnsgard University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscigrouse Part of the Ornithology Commons Johnsgard, Paul A., "11 Blue Grouse" (2008). Grouse and Quails of North America, by Paul A. Johnsgard. 13. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscigrouse/13 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Grouse and Quails of North America, by Paul A. Johnsgard by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Blue Grouse Dendragapw obsctlrus (Say) 182 3 OTHER VERNACULAR NAMES @USKY grouse, fool hen, gray grouse, hooter, mountain grouse, pine grouse, pine hen, Richardson grouse, sooty grouse. RANGE From southeastern Alaska, southern Yukon, southwestern Mackenzie, and western Alberta southward along the offshore islands to Vancouver and along the coast to northern California, and in the mountains to southern California, northern and eastern Arizona, and west central New Mexico (A.O.U. Check-list). SUBSPECIES (ex A.O.U. Check-list) D. o. obscurus (Say): Dusky blue grouse. Resident in the mountains from central Wyoming and western South Dakota south through eastern Utah and Colorado to northern and eastern Arizona and New Mexico. D. o. sitkensis Swarth: Sitkan blue grouse. Resident in southeastern Alaska south through the coastal islands to Calvert Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Cottontail
    EASTERN COTTONTAIL This publication is available in alternativeRABBIT media on request. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. © The Pennsylvania State University 2017 U.Ed. AGR 17-73 Corner of Park Ave. and Bigler Road • University Park, PA 16802 arboretum.psu.edu facebook.com/pennstatearboretum COTTONTAIL RABBIT DESCRIPTION Named for its characteristic “cotton-ball” tail, the Eastern cottontail is the most widespread species of rabbit in North America. Although most active on rainy or foggy nights, this animal’s brown fur provides excellent camou- NAME: Sylvilagus floridanus flage during the day. Because Eastern cottontails do not hibernate, they can be found in Pennsylvania year-round CONSERVATION STATUS: in open, grassy areas with shrubby cover. The long ears of extinct near least rabbits can move independently, enabling them to hear extinct in wild threatened threatened concern in two directions at once, as well as providing a cooling mechanism through an extensive network of blood vessels. EX EW CR EN VU NT LC DIET SIZE: 1.3–1.5 feet A common visitor to gardens, the Eastern cottontail rabbit enjoys eating grasses, herbs, flowers, fruit, and WEIGHT: 1.75–3.5 pounds vegetables. In the winter, this animal dines on twigs, bark, and plant buds. GROUP TERM: colony; nest THREATS NUMBER OF YOUNG: 3–8 Eastern cottontail rabbits are preyed upon by coyotes, foxes, bobcats, hawks, and even snakes. They may also HABITAT: open fields, meadows be hunted by humans for their meat and fur.
    [Show full text]
  • Moorestown Township Environmental Resource Inventory
    APPENDIX C Vertebrate Animals Known or Probable in Moorestown Township Mammals Common Name Scientific Name Status Opossum Didelphis marsupialis Stable Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus Stable Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus Stable Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus Stable Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus Stable Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus Stable Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Stable White-footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus Stable Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus Stable Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus Stable Pine Vole Microtus pinetorum Stable Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Stable Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus Stable Raccoon Procyon lotor Stable Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis Stable River Otter Lutra canadensis Stable Beaver Castor candensis Increasing White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus Decreasing Source: NJDEP, 2012 C-1 Birds Common Name Scientific Name NJ State Status Loons - Grebes Pied-Billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps E Gannets - Pelicans - Cormorants Double Crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus S Bitterns - Herons - Ibises American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus E Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis SC Black Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax T Green Heron Butorides virescens RP Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias SC Great Egret Ardea alba RP Geese - Swans - Ducks Canada Goose Branta canadensis INC Snow Goose Chen caerulescens INC American Wigeon Anas americana S Common Merganser Mergus merganser S Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus S Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis RP Mallard Anas platyrhynchos INC Northern Pintail
    [Show full text]
  • CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Habitat Occupancy of Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) in an Urban Fragmented Landscape a Thesis Subm
    CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Habitat Occupancy of Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in an Urban Fragmented Landscape A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Science in Biology By Sean Patrick Dunagan August 2015 The thesis of Sean Patrick Dunagan is approved: _________________________________________ ______________ Dr. Paul Wilson Date _________________________________________ ______________ Dr. Seth Riley Date _________________________________________ ______________ Dr. Tim Karels, Chair Date California State University, Northridge ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank my committee members: Tim Karels, Seth Riley, and Paul Wilson. Tim shared his expertise in ecology and provided insight in the statistical design and analysis of my thesis. Seth provided logistical support needed to complete this project as well as his expertise on urban carnivores and their ecology. Paul offered his knowledge of ecology and statistics and was readily available for advice. I am grateful for the support provided by the National Parks Service. Specifically, I would like to thank Joanne Moriarty and Justin Brown for their hard work on urban carnivores. Without their work this project would not have been possible. Land use permission was provided by Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency and Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District. iii Table of Contents Signature Page ii Acknowledgements iii List of Tables v List of Figures vi Abstract vii Introduction 9 Methods 14 Results 21 Discussion 25 Literature Cited
    [Show full text]
  • Observation on a Sooty Grouse Population at Sage Hen Creek
    THE CONDOR--- VOLUME 58 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1956 NUMBER 5 OBSERVATIONS ON A SOOTY GROUSE POPULATION AT SAGE HEN CREEK, CALIFORNIA By ROBERT S. HOFFMANN In recent years there has been considerable interest in two separate aspects of the biology of Blue Grouse (Dendragapus) . The first of these is the controversy concerning their taxonomy. The genus is widely distributed in the coniferous forests of the western states and consists of two groups of races recognized by some as separate species: the fuliginosus group, or Sooty Grouse, along the Pacific coast, and the obscures group, or Dusky Grouse, in the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain areas. Originally these two groups were placed under the name Dendragapus obscurus on the basis of supposed intergradation (Bendire, 1892:41,44, SO). The work of Brooks (1912,1926,1929) and Swarth (1922, 1926), however, led to their separation in the fourth edition of the A.O.U. Check-list (1931) into coastal and interior species. This split stood until the publication of the 19th Supplement to the A.O.U. Check-list (1944) when, following Peters (1934), D. fuliginosus and its subspecieswere replaced under D. obscurus. Al- though at that time some doubt was still expressedabout the correctnessof this merger (Grinnell and Miller, 1944: 113), intergradation in northern Washington and southern British Columbia between the races fuliginosus and pallidus has now been reported by several authors (Munro and Cowan, 1947:89; Carl, Guiguet, and Hardy, 1952:86; Jewett, Taylor, Shaw, and Aldrich, 1953 : 200). The taxonomy of these grouse must rest upon the fact of intergradation between the two groups of races.
    [Show full text]
  • Dusky Grouse Tend to Be Adapted Dusky and Sooty Grouse Were Considered Distinct
    Volt.un£ 14 .Numkt 3 9all2006 Blue Grouse divided by two equals Dusky and Sooty Grouse Michael A. Schroeder, Upland Bird Research Biologist Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife P.O. Box 1077 Bridgeport, W A 98813 email: [email protected] The state of Washington has a new species of grouse, at least forested habitats throughout the year, it appears to be according to the American Ornithologists Union (Auk, 2006, vulnerable to variations in forest practices. For example, Pages 926-936). Dendragapus obscurus (formerly known as research on Sooty Grouse in British Columbia indicated that the Blue Grouse) has now been split into 2 species based on their populations fluctuated dramatically depending on the genetic, morphological, and behavioral evidence; the Dusky age of the forest following clear-cutting. Unfortunately, there Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) and the Sooty Grouse has been little effort to evaluate the relationship between (Dendragapus fuliginosus). This split is actually a reversion forest management practices and Sooty Grouse populations. to the previous situation during the early 1900s when the In contrast to Sooty Grouse, Dusky Grouse tend to be adapted Dusky and Sooty Grouse were considered distinct. to relatively open habitats in forest openings or close to forest edges. Because these open habitats are preferred areas for As a group, Dusky and Sooty Grouse are widely distributed livestock production and development, it is necessary to in the mountainous portions of western North America. understand the relationships between land use and grouse Although they generally winter in coniferous forest, their populations. The human population increase in the breeding breeding habitats are quite varied.
    [Show full text]
  • Cottontail Story For
    CottontailNew England’s © ANNE BROWN PHOTO Relict, opportunistic or soon-to-be endangered species, the New England cottontail has managed to keep a low profile. But it is in danger of disappearing from the woodlands of New Hampshire. BY JOHN A. LITVAITIS t one time or another, most of us have encountered a small state: Eastern and New England. And it is the New England Abrown bunny while out for a walk or while doing chores in cottontail that has our concern. Before I summarize the reasons for the backyard. If you’re a hunter, your experiences also may have that concern, let me give you a little background information. included walking through a brushy field hoping to kick up a In general appearance, New England cottontails are like rabbit or two for the stewpot. other North American rabbits. Smaller than Eastern cottontails, Hunters and naturalists in New Hampshire know that rabbits New England cottontails weigh just about 2 pounds. Brown and (cottontails) and snowshoe hares both occur in the state. In summer, a conspicuous white tail describe most rabbits. However, if you they’re often difficult to tell apart because they both have a brown look closely, you can find a few characteristics that can help you coat and usually don’t stand still long enough for us to get a good distinguish a New England from an Eastern cottontail. About look. In winter, however, the coat of a snowshoe hare turns white half of Eastern cottontails have a small white spot on their and that of a cottontail remains brown.
    [Show full text]
  • RI DEM/Fish and Wildlife- Cottontail Rabbits in Rhode Island
    Cottontail Rabbits in Rhode Island Description: There are two types of rabbits that inhabit Rhode Island, the Eastern (Sylvilagus floridanus) and New England (Sylvilagus transitionalis) cottontail rabbits. The Eastern cottontail is an introduced species whereas the New England cottontail is a native species. The Eastern cottontail was first introduced into Rhode Island during the early 1900s to supplement the declining New England cottontail populations. Cottontails have longs ears, large hind feet, and short, fluffy tails. The coloration of the coat can range from reddish-brown to black to grayish-brown while the undersides are white. Eastern and New England cottontails look almost identical except for a slight variation in their coat colors. About half the population of Eastern cottontails possess a small white spot on their foreheads whereas the New England cottontails have a small black spot on their foreheads. Eastern and New England cottontails have slightly different body weights as well. The Eastern cottontail weighs on average 2-4 pounds and has a total body length ranging from 15-18 inches. The New England cottontail weighs 1.5-3 pounds on average and has a total body length ranging from 14- 19 inches. The males are called bucks and the females are called does. Rabbits are considered lagomorphs not rodents. Lagomorphs are an order of small mammals that include pikas, rabbits, and hares. The main difference between the two is that lagomorphs have two pairs of upper incisors whereas rodents only have one pair. Another difference is that all lagomorphs are strictly herbivores (eat only vegetation) unlike rodents who are omnivores (eat both vegetation and meat).
    [Show full text]