New Neighbors
On Wednesday September 17, ten very special rabbits voyaged across the ocean to become the newest residents of Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge. New England Cottontails (NEC), the only native rabbit in the northeast, have long been threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, predation, and competition from non-native Eastern Cottontails. The successful release of a new breeding population on Thacher Island provides exciting population opportunities for this sensitive species, and realizes an important goal of the refuge complex's Habitat Management Plan.
All About Bunnies
Once widespread across the region, NEC populations began declining in the early 20th century. Yet, isolated wild populations persist in southern Maine, and parts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. NEC are more secretive than their Eastern counterparts, preferring dense shrubs and young forests where they can hide from predators and feast on leaves, bark, twigs, and buds. The dense shrubland and maritime forest on Thacher Island, coupled with the lack of mammalian predators, provides an ideal habitat for the new colony.
Collaborative Conservation
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has long partnered with state and federal biologists, private landowners, Tribes, foresters, hunters, and non-profit organizations to enhance NEC conservation. Efforts include captive breeding at the Roger Williams and Queens Zoos, as well as outdoor pens in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Two island colonies, established at Noman's Island National Wildlife Refuge in MA and Patience Island in RI have shown the greatest promise to increase NEC populations. As a result, Thacher Island NWR was identified as a third island colony location.
The NEC release on Thacher Island represented close collaboration with Mass Wildlife, New Hampshire Fish & Game, Thacher and Straitsmouth Island Association (TSIA), along with regional zoos and universities. Following a boat journey coordinated by TSIA, refuge biologists successfully released a group of healthy NEC to jumpstart the newest colony.
Ongoing Management
Over the coming months, refuge biologists will continue to work closely with partners to manage and monitor the Thacher Island colony. Four of the rabbits
were fitted with specialized radio collars that provide location and viability data. Motion-activated cameras were also deployed around the island to detect activity and movement. Additional rabbits are expected to be released in future years. As the colony grows, rabbits from Thacher Island will be used to supplement mainland populations to prevent local population loss and enhance genetic diversity. This project is a huge success story for a very small rabbit, made possible by dedicated biologists and invaluable partnerships across New England.
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