Rehabilitating infant eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus): a robust scoping review of the relevant literature published in Canada and the United States

Abstract

The objective of this review is to describe the current available literature on rehabilitated eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) in Canada and the United States to determine gaps in our knowledge, how the state of available literature compares to other wildlife species, and what aspects of rehabilitative care are covered. To meet the objectives, eligible sources must have included eastern cottontails that have entered rehabilitation. Thirty-six articles from 31 different authors were within the inclusion and outside the exclusion criteria for analysis. Results show a lack of information related to eastern cottontails in 80% (4/5) of categories and significant variation in protocols, with most being related to feeding. The lack of published scientific literature and protocol variation could be contributing to knowledge gaps within the field of rehabilitation.