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New England Cottontail Sylvilagus transitionalis (Bangs, 1895) |
Mammals |  Printer Friendly Version (PDF) |
Family: Rabbits and Hares (Leporidae)
State Protection: Species Of Special Concern 
A native species at risk of becoming Threatened; does not qualify as Endangered or Threatened, but have been determined to require some measure of protection or attention to ensure that the species does not become threatened. NYSDEC may regulate the takin Federal Protection: Candidate For Listing
A candidate for federal listing by the United State Department of Interior. State Rarity Rank: S1
A State Rarity Rank of S1 means: Typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology makes it especially vulnerable in New York State. Global Rarity Rank: G3
A Global Rarity Rank of G3 means: Either rare and local throughout its range (21 to 100 occurrences), or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range (e.g. a physiographic region), or vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors. Did you know? Due to the decline of over 80% of its range since the 1960s, the New England Cottontail is a candidate for Federal threatened or endangered status (US Fish and Wildlife Service 2004). |
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| State Ranking Justification | [-] |
New England cottontails have disappeared from many historical locations including Warren County, the Catskills, and Long Island. It was last documented in Rensselaer County in the 1960s (Benton and Atkinsin 1964). Recent surveys suggest that it continues to decline throughout its range due to forest maturation, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and competition with eastern cottontails (Litvaitis et al. 2006). In New York, it is now limited to a few fragmented populations in Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester counties. If current trends continue, the species will likely become extirpated in the state.
| Short-term Trends | [-] |
The species was still found in Rennselaer County in the 1960s, but recent surveys suggest that it continues to decline and is now limited to a few fragmented populations in Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester counties (Litvaitis et al. 2006). If current trends continue, the species will likely become extirpated in New York State.
| Long-term Trends | [-] |
The historical record includes specimens from Warren County to the north, west of the Hudson River in the Catskills, and south to Long Island, but recent records from these locations are lacking. The current distribution is thought to be restricted to the east side of the Hudson River and includes fragmented populations in Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester counties. Recent evidence suggests that it continues to decline in these locations and it is thought that the species will become extirpated if current trends continue.
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New York Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Online Conservation Guide for Sylvilagus transitionalis. Available from: http://www.acris.nynhp.org/guide.php?id=7415. Accessed June 19th, 2013. 
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