
New England cottontail Photo by Logan Parker
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife — working with partners to restore Maine’s New England cottontail population — seeks reports of sightings of rabbits that might be New England cottontails or Eastern cottontails (a non-native species that resembles the New England Cottontail).
The NEC, Maine’s only native true rabbit, was once common in southern Maine. But NEC populations have declined dramatically in Maine and across their entire range due to habitat loss, according to a news release from the department. Today, NEC are known to occur in just seven towns: Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Wells, York, Kittery, Eliot, and Kennebunk; with a statewide population of less than 400.
Sightings in southern and coastal Maine are anticipated. Participants are asked to take a photo when possible and report sightings online with the following information: date; time; location/town; habitat description; and identifying characteristics. Participants are asked not to report known snowshoe hares.
For identification tips or to report a sighting, visit maine.gov/ifw.
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