Rabbitat Planting Party: A Record-Breaking Effort!

On September 28th, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge celebrated National Public Lands Day with a record-breaking planting event in Kittery, Maine. A dedicated team of 89 volunteers—including student groups from the University of New England, University of New Hampshire, Girl Scout Troop 1401, refuge staff, and volunteers—came together to plant over 1,800 native shrubs. This incredible community effort is helping restore vital habitat for the state-endangered New England cottontail rabbit. Thanks to this collective work, Maine’s native rabbit population is rebounding, with over 370 rabbits now hopping through the wild.