; The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that substantial biological information exists to warrant a more in-depth examination of the status of the New England cottontail rabbit.
; Today" ; mso-ascii- ; mso-hansi- ; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- "mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- =s action, known as a " ; mso-ascii- ; mso-hansi- ; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- "mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- @90-day finding," ; mso-ascii- ; mso-hansi- ; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- "mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- @ responds to a petition from four conservation organizations requesting protection for the rabbit under the Endangered Species Act. The petition cites concerns about the declining number of New England cottontail rabbits, which are know by their Latin name as Sylvilagus transitionalis.
; The Services 90-day finding on this petition does not mean it has decided it is appropriate to list the New England cottontail rabbit. Rather, this finding is the first step in a process that triggers a more thorough review of all the biological information available. This process, which includes a request for input from the public, should be completed within 12 months of receiving the petition. Once the review is complete, the Service will determine whether to propose listing the species.
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class=Section; This species" ; mso-ascii- ; mso-hansi- ; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- "mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- = historic range has declined by approximately 75 percent since 1960. The available habitat has been reduced to small, disconnected patches of young forests. Today, the rabbit may be found in eastern New York and in several counties in Connecticut, Rhode Island, western Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and southern coastal Maine. Although they once occurred in Vermont, New England cottontails have not been reported there since 1990.
; Based on the status review, the Service will make one of three possible determinations:
; 1) Listing is not warranted and no further action will be taken.
; 2) Listing the cottontail rabbit as threatened or endangered is warranted. In this case, the Service will publish a proposal to list, solicit independent scientific peer review of the proposal, seek input from the public, and consider the input before a final decision about listing the species is made. Generally, there is a one-year period between the time a species is proposed and the final decision.
; 3) Listing is warranted but precluded by other, higher priority activities. This means the species is added to the federal list of candidate species, and the proposal to list is deferred while the Service works on listing proposals for other species that are at greater risk. A warranted but precluded finding requires annual reviews until such time as a listing proposal is published, or a not warranted finding is made based on new information.
; The four petitioners, Biodiversity Legal Foundation, Conservation Action Project, Endangered Small Animals Conservation Fund and Defenders of Wildlife, believe the main factors in the New England cottontail" ; mso-ascii- ; mso-hansi- ; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- "mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- =s decline are widespread land-use changes and competition with an introduced species, the eastern cottontail. While the two species of cottontails bear a strong resemblance to each other, New England cottontails are a little smaller and darker. Also, the New England cottontail" ; mso-ascii- ; mso-hansi- ; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- "mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol- =s typical winter fur includes a dark spot between the ears and a dark area in front of each ear.
; Service biologists reviewed the petition and decided that it presented substantial information indicating that a status review is warranted. Evaluation of the New England cottontail will include an opportunity for the public, local, state and other federal agencies, tribes and scientists to provide information about the rabbit during a 60-day comment period.
; Information and comments about the New England cottontail may be submitted to:
; Field Supervisor, Attention Endangered Species
; New England Field Office
; 70 Commercial Street, Suite 300
; Concord, NH 03301
; Information may also be faxed to that office at 603-223-0104. To ensure consideration, information must be received at the above address by the close of business on August 30.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
3in; -FWS-
