We where just talking about this over the past few weeks.

In early spring we where talking about how long it has been since we'd seen any cottontail bunnies around. It's been years and years and when we first moved to our house 28 years ago, they where everywhere.

Then out of no where I spotted one on the side of the house. Then 2, then 3 and now they are everywhere and they sure do eat.

Just yesterday, hubby was asking
1. what happened to all the other bunnies
2. If the cottontail "is endangered in New England", someone needs to come take a look at our front yard. There are 25 of them eating the clover.
3. What in the world happened this year to bring 100's of them to our neighborhood?

From what I've read in the past, the New England cottontail bunny as been vanishing from the area due to suburban sprawl etc and hunting of the rabbit.

No idea why there is an increase, unless we are looking at a cottontail rabbit that is not he new england one.

Fran

I am on this yearÂs third...yes third generation of bunnies, Joe and I noted that this brood is right now about the size of a chocolate bunny in an Easter basket...very cute but equally as destructive. Call me Mrs. McGregor but I am often out there telling them to go away and find a new home.
I have been using Bobbex for rabbits and I must say it has really been worth its weight in the great amount of gold I have been paying for it. This is the first year that I can remember where all of my daylilies are actually blooming. A note of caution Bobbex although *organic* is (to me) so foul smelling that when I spilled some on my hand after spraying and washed my hands over and over again with every type of soap that came to mind I considered the possibility of gnawing off my hand. When I mentioned this to a nursery owner he told me he once got some first on his hand and then wiped his mouthÂthere was no toothpaste, mouthwash, or drinkÂyes by that time alcoholic drink that could remove that foul taste. The ingredients say it all; putrescent whole egg solids, castor oil, cloves, garlic oil, paprika, vinegar, meat meal, fish oil, urea, water, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, aluminum magnesium silicate, glue. Are you gagging at the thought of it?

I believe it is the Eastern Cottontail that is numerous in our area, and the New England Cottontail that is endangered. They are hard to tell apart unless you really look closely, but I'm guessing that you are seeing the Easterns.

I had a Cottontail dining on my cutting garden for a while but last week we saw a hawk swoop down and take him away. Pest control at its best (although I did feel sorry for the little chap)!

Ellen,
Very interesting I didn't realize that there were two types of cotontails in New England. Although I doubt I would ever be able to tell the difference between the two and I won't be out collecting skulls I did find the link below had some good info. kt

Here is a link that might be useful: Mass. Gov. Cotontail

I had read about this on Google but who could tell the difference? Anyway, there are a lot of them and they are also eating clover at my house. And they are welcome to it.

Same thing here in southeastern MA...we have more rabbits this year than I have seen in years and years. Haven't seen any foxes this year, so that may be why. I've lost several plants to the little buggers...

Yup, same here in West Hartford CT. Lost almost everything (annuals) in my 'enclosed' garden and refuse to spend more $ to feed the little buggers.....

Between the explosion of weeds this year and loss of the annuals, I'm just hoping for an early frost. :)