Ecology and Vulnerability

New England Cottontail

Background
The New England cottontail occurred historically throughout most of New England and eastern New York¹.  This species is highly dependent on densely vegetated areas such as coastal thickets or young, brushy forest¹.  The reforestation of New England combined with extensive development has resulted in a large decline in this habitat type, which has greatly reduced numbers of New England cottontail^1,2.  As a result, this species is currently limited to five disjunct  (geographically separated) populations scattered across New England that have little to no gene flow among them¹.  The species has come under consideration for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act¹.  Researchers concluded that without immediate human intervention, short-term persistence of New England cottontail populations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Cape Cod is at great risk_¹.

Climate Impacts
Predators are the major source of mortality in this species, and the duration of snow cover in the winter can have a strong effect on their survival^3,4.  Because New England cottontails have a brown coat, they are more conspicuous to predators against a background of white snow⁴.  Additionally, snow cover restricts diet and movement of cottontails⁵.  As a result, the New England cottontail may benefit from decreased snow cover and forest disturbance in the northeast.  However, indirect effects through changing relationships with other species, such as predators and competitors, are difficult to predict.  For example, if climate change affects eastern cottontails positively and their numbers increase, then there may be increased competition for New England cottontails⁶.