If you have noticed more rabbits in your neighborhood, or, for that matter, in your yard, you’re probably right.
The rabbit population in the state, primarily the Eastern Cottontail, is up for a variety of reasons, said Dr. Becky McPeake, a professor and wildlife extension specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Bingo Cottontail, hiding from a lawnmower, on a hot Arkansas summer night.
One reason is the oppressive heat the state has been seeing this summer.
“It is so hot outside, you are seeing more rabbits because they are active in the ‘cooler’ parts of the day, such as early mornings, when we humans are also more active outdoors in order to avoid the heat,” she said in a lengthy email. “The extreme temperatures are funneling us to certain times of the day when we are more likely to encounter other living creatures.”
It isn’t just the heat though.
“There could be local situations where there are more rabbits because there are fewer predators,” she said. “This year I have heard very few coyotes and seen very few hawks, and we have seen more rabbits and squirrels in the neighborhood this year. Two or three years ago, we had many hawks and coyotes. I would hear hawks calling daily and they had a nest nearby, and coyotes howling every few nights. Guess what? During that time, our squirrel population declined a bunch, as did rabbit sightings. However, these observations likely don’t translate to statewide population shifts.”
McPeake continued, “in ecology, there is a classic “predator-prey relationship” which describes why rabbit populations might fluctuate in simple terms. Most ecologists say this relationship is over-simplified and is more complex in reality, but this framework helps with understanding the volatility of rabbit and predator populations, the classic example being coyotes and cottontails. In general, the population size of predators adjusts depending on the population size of prey species, and vice versa. For example, when prey are abundant, coyotes are healthier and have more young. When predators reach ‘carrying capacity,’ they are consuming a lot of rabbits, which causes the rabbit population to decline and rabbits have fewer young. With less to eat, the coyote population declines. With fewer predators, the rabbit population increases. It is a cyclic dance which takes a few years for one to adjust to the other.”
In sum, “so in theory, if you are seeing more rabbits this year, then we would predict in a year or two, you would likely see fewer rabbits as predators start to locate and hone in on the abundant prey available. Again this explanation is a simplification. Since coyotes also eat squirrels and rodents and birds and even berries, it might not be quite as dramatic.”
So, you’re seeing more rabbits because they’re active when you are and predators are less active.
Anything else?
Yes, McPeake said and explained it isn’t just the heat.
“Drought conditions can affect plant growth and water availability and therefore become a ‘limiting factor’ to populations,” she said. “...Current weather conditions could have an impact if they continue and cause habitat loss and decreased survivability. But many of our native species are adapted to weather conditions, so it depends on the severity of the drought and likely a number of other factors.”
Wild rabbits can also live two to three years, if they aren’t being, and they also breed, well, like rabbits said the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission as they said rabbits “reproduce rapidly” and a mature female can “have up to five litters of three to eight young in a single season.”
Blake Sasse, with the wildly impressive title of Nongame Mammal/Furbearer Program Leader with Game & Fish said all those rabbits mean that they’re making nests somewhere and if you spot one in your yard, don’t be concerned.
They’re “pretty harmless,” he said.
The nests “typically do not carry diseases which harm people,” McPeake added.
Which is good news for the nest, seen below, that was spotted in the backyard while mowing.
a backyard rabbit’s nest, that has been has been lined with fur to make it more comfortable.
“Rabbits are entertaining and unless they are consuming your garden or vegetable crops, most people enjoy having them around,” McPeake added.
And that’s also true, Bandit and Chili, as I’ve come to name the mating pair in the yard, are much funnier than watching the blue jays fight and the squirrels run along the fence.
They’ve also made a Bluey and Bingo, at least, which caused me to quit mowing that evening. I’ve since left the nest intact and mow around it.
All those rabbits mean hunters should be happy, once the season opens Sept. 1.
Which McPeake made a note of.
“There is a disease called tularemia or ‘rabbit fever’ which can be harmful,” she said. “Therefore, rabbit hunting season occurs in the fall to reduce the risk from this disease.” And while Eastern Cottontails are the most familiar species, there’s also Swamp Rabbits as well as the occasional Jackrabbit but not the Lonoke variety.
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Rabbit, rabbit: New month, and more backyard critters
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If you have noticed more rabbits in your neighborhood, or, for that matter, in your yard, you’re probably right.
The rabbit population in the state, primarily the Eastern Cottontail, is up for a variety of reasons, said Dr. Becky McPeake, a professor and wildlife extension specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
One reason is the oppressive heat the state has been seeing this summer.
“It is so hot outside, you are seeing more rabbits because they are active in the ‘cooler’ parts of the day, such as early mornings, when we humans are also more active outdoors in order to avoid the heat,” she said in a lengthy email. “The extreme temperatures are funneling us to certain times of the day when we are more likely to encounter other living creatures.”
It isn’t just the heat though.
“There could be local situations where there are more rabbits because there are fewer predators,” she said. “This year I have heard very few coyotes and seen very few hawks, and we have seen more rabbits and squirrels in the neighborhood this year. Two or three years ago, we had many hawks and coyotes. I would hear hawks calling daily and they had a nest nearby, and coyotes howling every few nights. Guess what? During that time, our squirrel population declined a bunch, as did rabbit sightings. However, these observations likely don’t translate to statewide population shifts.”
McPeake continued, “in ecology, there is a classic “predator-prey relationship” which describes why rabbit populations might fluctuate in simple terms. Most ecologists say this relationship is over-simplified and is more complex in reality, but this framework helps with understanding the volatility of rabbit and predator populations, the classic example being coyotes and cottontails. In general, the population size of predators adjusts depending on the population size of prey species, and vice versa. For example, when prey are abundant, coyotes are healthier and have more young. When predators reach ‘carrying capacity,’ they are consuming a lot of rabbits, which causes the rabbit population to decline and rabbits have fewer young. With less to eat, the coyote population declines. With fewer predators, the rabbit population increases. It is a cyclic dance which takes a few years for one to adjust to the other.”
In sum, “so in theory, if you are seeing more rabbits this year, then we would predict in a year or two, you would likely see fewer rabbits as predators start to locate and hone in on the abundant prey available. Again this explanation is a simplification. Since coyotes also eat squirrels and rodents and birds and even berries, it might not be quite as dramatic.”
So, you’re seeing more rabbits because they’re active when you are and predators are less active.
Anything else?
Yes, McPeake said and explained it isn’t just the heat.
“Drought conditions can affect plant growth and water availability and therefore become a ‘limiting factor’ to populations,” she said. “...Current weather conditions could have an impact if they continue and cause habitat loss and decreased survivability. But many of our native species are adapted to weather conditions, so it depends on the severity of the drought and likely a number of other factors.”
Wild rabbits can also live two to three years, if they aren’t being, and they also breed, well, like rabbits said the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission as they said rabbits “reproduce rapidly” and a mature female can “have up to five litters of three to eight young in a single season.”
Blake Sasse, with the wildly impressive title of Nongame Mammal/Furbearer Program Leader with Game & Fish said all those rabbits mean that they’re making nests somewhere and if you spot one in your yard, don’t be concerned.
They’re “pretty harmless,” he said.
The nests “typically do not carry diseases which harm people,” McPeake added.
Which is good news for the nest, seen below, that was spotted in the backyard while mowing.
“Rabbits are entertaining and unless they are consuming your garden or vegetable crops, most people enjoy having them around,” McPeake added.
And that’s also true, Bandit and Chili, as I’ve come to name the mating pair in the yard, are much funnier than watching the blue jays fight and the squirrels run along the fence.
They’ve also made a Bluey and Bingo, at least, which caused me to quit mowing that evening. I’ve since left the nest intact and mow around it.
All those rabbits mean hunters should be happy, once the season opens Sept. 1.
Which McPeake made a note of.
“There is a disease called tularemia or ‘rabbit fever’ which can be harmful,” she said. “Therefore, rabbit hunting season occurs in the fall to reduce the risk from this disease.” And while Eastern Cottontails are the most familiar species, there’s also Swamp Rabbits as well as the occasional Jackrabbit but not the Lonoke variety.
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