Sylvilagus Floridanus Research Articles

Determinants of home-range size of imperiled New England cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis) and introduced eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus)

In fragmented habitat, population persistence depends in part on patch quality and patch size relative to home-range size. The imperiled New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis (Bangs, 1895)) is an obligate user of shrublands in the northeastern United States, a highly fragmented and declining ecosystem. New England cottontail conservation efforts have targeted habitat creation; however, efforts are hindered by a limited knowledge of seasonal space use and its relationship to habitat quality, which could help inform minimum patch-size requirements and implications of competition with non-native eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus (J.A. Allen, 1890)). To address these uncertainties, we modeled home-range areas for both species as a function of season, patch size, sex, and two indicators of forage and cover availability. Home range was generally inversely correlated with measures of forage and cover resources and the response differed by season and species and did not vary with patch size. Instead, inclusion of matrix habitat within home ranges increased with decreasing patch size, placing individuals within smaller patches at a high risk of mortality. These risks may be mitigated in patches >7 ha and absent in patches >20–25 ha where predicted inclusion of matrix is lower or absent.

Ontogenetic allometry and architectural properties of the paravertebral and hindlimb musculature in Eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus): functional implications for developmental changes in locomotor performance.

Due to small body size, an immature musculoskeletal system, and other growth-related limits on performance, juvenile mammals frequently experience a greater risk of predation than their adult counterparts. As a result, behaviorally precocious juveniles are hypothesized to exhibit musculoskeletal advantages that permit them to accelerate rapidly and evade predation. This hypothesis was tested through detailed quantitative evaluation of muscle growth in wild Eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Cottontail rabbits experience high rates of mortality during the first year of life, suggesting that selection might act to improve performance in growing juveniles. Therefore, it was predicted that muscle properties associated with force and power capacity should be enhanced in juvenile rabbits to facilitate enhanced locomotor performance. We quantified muscle architecture from 24 paravertebral and hindlimb muscles across ontogeny in a sample of n=29 rabbits and evaluated the body mass scaling of muscle mass (MM), physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), isometric force (Fmax ), and instantaneous power (Pinst ), along with several dimensionless architectural indices. In contrast to our hypothesis, MM and PCSA for most muscles change with positive allometry during growth by scaling at and , respectively, whereas Fmax and Pinst generally scale indistinguishably from isometry, as do the architectural indices tested. However, scaling patterns indicate that the digital flexors and ankle extensors of juvenile S.floridanus have greater capacities for force and power, respectively, than those in adults, suggesting these muscle properties may be a part of several compensatory features that promote enhanced acceleration performance in young rabbits. Overall, our study implies that body size constraints place larger, more mature rabbits at a disadvantage during acceleration, and that adults must develop hypertrophied muscles in order to maintain mechanical similarity in force and power capacities across development. These findings challenge the accepted understanding that juvenile animals are at a performance detriment relative to adults. Instead, for prey-predator interactions necessitating short intervals of high force and power generation relative to body mass, as demonstrated by rapid acceleration of cottontail rabbits fleeing predators, it may be the adults that struggle to keep pace with juveniles.

Estudio del cráneo mediante morfometría geométrica en dos especies de <em>Sylvilagus</em> Gray, 1867 (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)

Dentro del género Sylvilagus Gray, 1867 se reconocen, entre otras, las especies Sylvilagus brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758) y Sylvilagus floridanus (J.A. Allen, 1890) los estudios morfológicos disponibles de las cuales son muy extensos. Por ello, se realizó un estudio comparativo de la conformación craneal en ambas especies empleando técnicas de morfometría geométrica. Para ello se estudió un total de 31 cráneos de S. brasiliensis y 16 S. floridanus en los que, a partir de las fotografías, se situaron 12 hitos anatómicos en el plano dorsal. No aparecieron diferencias entre sexos pero sí entre especies, tanto en tamaño como en forma, presentando S. brasiliensis un cráneo de menor longitud pero más ancho que S. floridanus. Al tratarse de puntos no especialmente importantes de inserción muscular, ni albergar externamente estructuras funcionales importantes (como podría ser todo lo relacionado con la visión), y en vista de los requerimientos ecológicos similares para ambas especies estudiadas, se interpreta que las diferencias detectadas son debidas a un mero cambio derivado de la diferencia de tamaño entre las dos especies –S. brasiliensis es de menor tamaño que S. floridanus-. Dicho de otro modo: la reducción del tamaño craneal no implicaría una mera versión reducida de la forma (una “reducción harmónica”), sino que exigiría cambios heterotópicos, un rediseño estructural derivado de la reducción en tamaño. Suponemos que estas diferencias regionales en la estructura craneal son más debidas a cambios en los patrones de desarrollo que a una diferencia en las estrategias de vida para ambas especies, a la vista de los requerimientos ecológicos similares entra ambas especies estudiadas.

Urbanization alters predator-avoidance behaviours.

Urbanization is considered the fastest growing form of global land-use change and can dramatically modify habitat structure and ecosystem functioning. While ecological processes continue to operate within cities, urban ecosystems are profoundly different from their more natural counterparts. Thus, ecological predictions derived from more natural ecosystems are rarely generalizable to urban environments. In this study, we used data from a large-scale and long-term camera trap project in Chicago IL, USA, to determine whether urbanization alters predator-avoidance behaviour of urban prey species. We studied three behavioural mechanisms often induced by the fear of predation (spatial distribution, daily activity patterns and vigilance) of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) when coyote (Canis latrans)-an urban apex predator-was present. We found no evidence of spatial segregation between coyote and either prey species. Furthermore, neither white-tailed deer nor eastern cottontail changed their daily activity or increased vigilance in urban areas when coyotes were present. Eastern cottontail, however, had their uppermost level of vigilance in highly urban sites when coyotes were absent. Our study demonstrates that predator-prey dynamics might be modified in urban ecosystems-moving from what is traditionally thought of as a two-player system (predator and prey) to a three-player system (predator, prey and people).

The Eastern cottontail ( Sylvilagus floridanus ) in Tuscany (Central Italy): weak evidence for its role as a host of EBHSV and RHDV

The Eastern cottontail ( Sylvilagus floridanus ) in Tuscany (Central Italy): weak evidence for its role as a host of EBHSV and RHDV

When good animals love restored habitat in bad neighborhoods: ecological traps for eastern cottontails in agricultural landscapes

Large-scale restoration programs have been implemented worldwide to counteract habitat loss and fragmentation from expansion and intensification of agriculture. These agri-environment programs create habitat patches imbedded in an agricultural matrix. The assumption is these patches benefit wildlife and that individuals either avoid agricultural fields or use them to increase their fitness. We selected eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) as a focal species on restored grasslands in Illinois, USA to assess survival and to determine if maladaptive habitat selection for agricultural fields could create an ecological trap. We also investigated whether a mismatch between real and perceived predation risk could explain their habitat selection. We radiotracked 95 cottontails and estimated habitat-specific survival using known-fate models, and measured habitat selection using Manly’s standardized selection ratios. We also assessed perceived predation risk with giving-up density experiments. Survival of cottontails was higher in restored grasslands relative to agricultural and developed areas. Habitat selection did not reflect this spatial variation in mortality risk, however, when crops were present on the landscape. Agricultural lands created an equal-preference trap. Cottontails did not accurately assess predation risk; they did not recognize that agricultural fields were risky. This mismatch could be due to cottontails’ emphasis on protecting themselves from avian predators rather than from coyotes (Canis latrans), which currently are their main predator. Our novel study demonstrates how dynamic landscape context can create ecological traps. Such unexpected outcomes can reduce the conservation benefits of restoration programs.

Molecular identification of three sympatric lagomorphs in the Northeastern United States

The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is the focus of extensive efforts to conserve the species. A major component of their conservation program is the collection of faecal samples to determine their distribution and abundance throughout their range. In parts of their range, New England cottontail is sympatric with a non-native eastern cottontail (S. floridanus) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). Because faecal samples from all three lagomorphs are indistinguishable, a reliable molecular genetic method for specimen identification is necessary. We tested the efficacy of a diagnostic character method by analyzing sequence data from 1770 faecal, blood, and tissue samples collected from five states in the Northeastern United States. The method amplified a portion of the mitochondrial DNA control region and identified numerous diagnostic characters for each species. Two suspected nuclear mitochondrial DNA sequences (NUMTs) also were identified when a universal primer was used in the polymerase chain reaction. Our study could be the first evidence of a NUMT in a lagomorph and highlights the importance of using taxon-specific primers for species identification.

Implementation of an occupancy-based monitoring protocol for a widespread and cryptic species, the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis)

Context Designing effective long-term monitoring strategies is essential for managing wildlife populations. Implementing a cost-effective, practical monitoring program is especially challenging for widespread but locally rare species. Early successional habitat preferred by the New England cottontail (NEC) has become increasingly rare and fragmented, resulting in substantial declines from their peak distribution in the mid-1900s. The introduction of a possible competitor species, the eastern cottontail (EC), may also have played a role. Uncertainty surrounding how these factors have contributed to NEC declines has complicated management and necessitated development of an appropriate monitoring framework to understand possible drivers of distribution and dynamics. Aims Because estimating species abundance is costly, we designed presence–absence surveys to estimate species distributions, test assumptions about competitive interactions, and improve understanding of demographic processes for eastern cottontails (EC) and New England cottontails (NEC). The survey protocol aimed to balance long-term management objectives with practical considerations associated with monitoring a widespread but uncommon species. Modelling data arising from these observations allow for estimation of covariate relationships between species status and environmental conditions including habitat and competition. The framework also allows inference about species status at unsurveyed locations. Methods We designed a monitoring protocol to collect data across six north-eastern USA states and, using data collected from the first year of monitoring, fit a suite of single-season occupancy models to assess how abiotic and biotic factors influence NEC occurrence, correcting for imperfect detectability. Key results Models did not provide substantial support for competitive interactions between EC and NEC. NEC occurrence patterns appear to be influenced by several remotely sensed habitat covariates (land-cover classes), a habitat-suitability index, and, to a lesser degree, plot-level habitat covariates (understorey density and canopy cover). Conclusions We recommend continuing presence–absence monitoring and the development of dynamic occupancy models to provide further evidence regarding hypotheses of competitive interactions and habitat influences on the underlying dynamics of NEC occupancy. Implications State and federal agencies responsible for conserving this and other threatened species can engage with researchers in thoughtful discussions, based on management objectives, regarding appropriate monitoring design to ensure that the allocation of monitoring efforts provides useful inference on population drivers to inform management intervention.

Ontogeny of effective mechanical advantage in eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus).

Juvenile animals must survive in the same environment as adults despite smaller sizes, immature musculoskeletal tissues, general ecological naïveté and other limits of performance. Developmental changes in muscle leverage could constitute one mechanism to promote increased performance in juveniles despite ontogenetic limitations. We tested this hypothesis using a holistic dataset on growth and locomotor development in wild eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) to examine ontogenetic changes in hindlimb muscle effective mechanical advantage (EMA). EMA is a dimensionless index of muscle leverage, equal to the quotient of average muscle lever length and the load arm length of the ground reaction force (GRF), effectively representing the magnitude of output force arising from a given muscle force. We found that EMA at the hip and ankle joints, as well as overall hindlimb EMA, significantly declined across ontogeny in S. floridanus, whereas EMA at the knee joint remained unchanged. Ontogenetic decreases in EMA were due to isometric scaling of muscle lever arm lengths alongside positive ontogenetic allometry of GRF load arm lengths - which in turn was primarily related to positive allometry of hindlimb segment lengths. Greater EMA limits the estimated volume of hindlimb extensor muscle that has to be activated in young rabbits, likely mitigating the energetic cost of locomotion and saving metabolic resources for other physiological functions, such as growth and tissue differentiation. An additional examination of limb growth allometry across a diverse sample of mammalian taxa suggests that ontogenetic decreases in limb joint EMA may be a common mammalian trend.

Competition alters seasonal resource selection and promotes use of invasive shrubs by an imperiled native cottontail.

Many ecosystems face multiple invaders, and interactions among invasive and native species may complicate conservation efforts for imperiled species. Examination of fine‐scale resource selection can be used to detect patterns in habitat selection resulting from species interactions and assess the value of specific resources, including invasive plants, to wildlife. We used animal location data with mixed‐effects resource selection models to examine seasonal competitive interactions and species‐specific selection for forage and cover resources by an imperiled native lagomorph, the New England cottontail Sylvilagus transitionalis and its nonnative competitor, the eastern cottontail S. floridanus in the eastern Hudson Valley, NY. We found evidence that resource selection by New England cottontails depended on the relative prevalence of eastern cottontails to New England cottontails. Where eastern cottontails were less prevalent New England cottontail selected for resources characteristic of early successional shrublands. Where eastern cottontails were more prevalent, New England cottontails selected for resources characteristic of later successional shrublands. New England cottontail use of certain invasive shrubs depended on the prevalence of eastern cottontails relative to New England cottontails, suggesting response to invasive plants is confounded by interactions with a nonnative competitor. Our results further emphasize the need for conservation efforts to consider invasive management within the ecosystem context. We demonstrate the utility of resource selection studies to assist in this regard by exploring competitive interactions in the absence of removal studies, while simultaneously assessing the impact of habitat components such as invasive vegetation on species of conservation concern. Synthesis and applications Resource selection studies can be directly applied to inform ongoing species conservation where multiple invaders are present or where species interactions influence resource selection. Fine‐scale assessments of resource selection, similar to those presented here, can be used to selectively manage habitat to benefit desired species within the ecosystem context.

Interannual and daily activity patterns of mid-sized mammals in Maracaibo Lake Basin, Venezuela

Despite its biogeographic importance, the mammals of Maracaibo lake basin have been poorly studied. The objectives of this study were to: 1) provide a list of the mammal species detected by combining information from camera traps and other sources, and 2) describe diurnal and annual activity patterns for some of the species detected. Camera-trapping was carried out for one year in five localities within the Burro Negro Protection Zone (Spanish acronym ZPBN). Records of terrestrial mammals (excluding Chiroptera) were compiled from: 1) direct and indirect opportunistic records during field visits, 2) informal interviews with local inhabitants, 3) three national natural history collections, and 4) scientific literature. The complementarity between sources, similarity with other localities within the region, and temporal changes in composition were evaluated with the Sorensen Similarity Index (RS), and annual differences in the number of detections per sampling effort were evaluated using a X 2 test. Sampling effort was 1,799 camera days, resulting in 569 events of mammal detection recorded and 20 species from 17 families in 9 orders identified. Four species ( Dasypus novemcinctus, Dasyprocta leporina, Cerdocyon thous and Leopardus pardalis ) were captured all year round. Camera traps detected half of the non-flying mammal species in the area , including five that had not been previously reported by other sources ( Cuniculus paca, Coendou prehensilis, Sylvilagus floridanus, Procyon cancrivorus and Puma yagouaroundi ). At least three species ( Panthera onca , Odocoileus virginianus , and Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ) had been reported as historically abundant, but were not detected during the year of camera trapping, which could be due to recent declines in their populations. Camera trapping provides reliable records on the presence of four species with data gaps in their distribution ranges ( Myrmecophaga tetradactyla, Coendou prehensilis, Cerdocyon thous and Procyon cancrivorus ), as well as baseline data for evaluating the distribution overlap between pairs of species, such as Tamandua mexicana and T. tetradactyla , and Dasyprocta leporina and D. punctata . A higher species richness was observed between June and August, in the rainy season.

Clostridial Enterotoxemia and Coccidiosis in Weanling Cottontail Rabbits ( Sylvilagus audubonii, Sylvilagus floridanus, Sylvilagus nuttallii) from Colorado, USA.

Wild cottontail rabbits ( Sylvilagus spp.), especially young individuals, are one of the most frequent wildlife species presented for rehabilitation at wildlife rehabilitation centers. These species are challenging to rehabilitate, with gastrointestinal (GI) disease being a major cause of morbidity and mortality during the weaning stage. Two organisms, Clostridium spiroforme and Eimeria spp., are frequently associated with GI disease in young domestic rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) and can result in high rates of morbidity and mortality in this species. Here we present evidence that these two pathogens also play an important role in GI disease in young cottontail rabbits ( Sylvilagus audubonii, Sylvilagus floridanus, Sylvilagus nuttallii) undergoing rehabilitation.

“An American near Rome” … and not only! Presence of the eastern cottontail in Central Italy and potential impacts on the endemic and vulnerable Apennine hare

Abstract The eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus has been introduced to Italy for hunting purposes since the 1960s. This species is currently present in northern Italy, with some small populations in Central Italy. Data for Central Italy are scanty, but they deserve research attention because this lagomorph is responsible for the spread of disease to an endemic vulnerable species, the Apennine hare Lepus corsicanus. In this work, we summarized the distribution of alien cottontails, over 50 years after their first releases, with special regard to areas where the endemic species is present. Eradication should be recommended where the alien species coexists with the endemic one.

Survival and habitat use of sympatric lagomorphs in bottomland hardwood forests

Lagomorphs are important consumers and prey in ecosystems worldwide, but have declined due to land use changes and habitat loss, and such losses may be exacerbated for specialist species. We compared survival and habitat use of two closely related lagomorphs, the swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus (Bachman, 1837)), a bottomland hardwood (BLH) forest specialist, and the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus (J. A. Allen, 1890)), a habitat generalist. We tested whether survival and habitat use differed between radio-collared swamp rabbits (n = 129) and eastern cottontails (n = 72) monitored during December 2009 – December 2013 in southern Illinois. We found interactive effects of species and season on survival rates: swamp rabbits had higher annual survival (0.37 ± 0.05 (estimate ± SE)) than did cottontails (0.20 ± 0.05), but this difference occurred primarily during the growing season. Swamp rabbits were located closer to watercourses in areas characterized by higher basal area and more mature BLH forest cover compared with eastern cottontails. Our results suggest that BLH forests may be marginal habitat for cottontails and indicate predation as the primary cause of mortality for both species. Swamp rabbits use of early-successional BLH forest suggests that restoration efforts have been successful. However, as specialists, swamp rabbits remain restricted to a narrow band of bottomlands near watercourses and may benefit from improved upland cover that serves as refugia from flooding.

Ethnozoological annotations on wild mammals from the Gulf of Morrosquillo, Sucre, Caribbean, Colombia

Objective: An ethnozoological evaluation was carried out on the wild mammals to establish the regional link between the fauna and human populations. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The study area was located in the Morrosquillo subregion of Sucre, Caribbean, Colombia, and was carried out between November, 2017 and March, 2018. The information on exploitation and other considerations, along with the analysis of the obtained data, was gathered with the application of 100 semi-structured surveys, with p = 0.05, alpha 99% and d = 5%. For the determination of the species of wild mammals, an illustrated catalog was developed, which sought to facilitate the identification of the collected species. For the analyzes, descriptive statistics were used and the following were calculated: Cultural Importance Index and Total Cultural Importance Index. Findings: 22 species in 13 ethnozoological categories were identified, of which the most significant in terms of number of associated mammals were trade, pet and consumption species; in addition, the cultural importance for Sylvilagus floridanus and Notosciurus granatensis was noteworthy; the latter had the largest number of linked ethnozoological categories. Application: From the conservationist point of view, knowledge on a given area in terms of the human-wildlife relationship is very important, especially when taking into account perceptions that come from culture, economy, history, society and individual thought, which are also related to the biological characteristics of harvested species or other considerations. Keywords: Exploitation, Caribbean, Colombia, Ethnozoology, Wild Mammals

Impact of an invasive herbivore and human trampling on lichen-rich dry grasslands: Soil-dependent response of multiple taxa

Dry grasslands are listed among the habitats of conservation concern in Europe. Here, based on a multitaxon approach including vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens, we explored the effects of small-scale disturbance on lichen-rich dry grassland vegetation by surveying 60 sites across the Po Plain (Northern Italy). In particular, we evaluated the impact of human trampling and fecal pellet deposition by the alien invasive herbivore Sylvilagus floridanus. We found a soil-dependent response of multiple taxa to the impact of the herbivore. For plants, beside a negative effect of trampling, the interaction between fecal pellet amount and soil pH indicates that the negative effect of the invasive herbivore is stronger on acidic soils. Bryophyte cover increased with increasing soil pH, annual rainfall and fecal pellet, while it was not affected by trampling. Lichen richness and cover decreased with increasing soil pH. The marginal interaction between soil pH and amount of fecal pellet indicates that the more negative effects on lichens may be expected on calcareous soils. Trampling did not affect lichen patterns and the rainfall gradient marginally affected lichen cover with a negative effect. Lichen species richness is also negatively affected by increasing vascular plant cover. The main implications of this study for improving conservation are: (1) conservation practices should be tailored to organism and substrate type; (2) bryophyte and lichen diversity patterns are influenced also by climatic conditions, suggesting that the impact on these organisms may be exacerbated by climate change; and (3) strict conservation, even through active exclusion of wild fauna, of the most species-rich sites should be recommended, even if previous literature and the negative plant cover-lichen richness relationship found in this study indicate that moderate mechanical disturbance could be a practical tool to enhance cryptogams.

Habitat fragmentation, low seed germination rates, and herbivory impede conservation efforts for a prairie relict wildflower

Fire exclusion, agriculture, and the extirpation of large herbivores have contributed to the loss of early successional plant communities and species across the southeast USA. Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum (Alexander) G.L. Nesom), a wildflower endemic to the southeast Piedmont, is one species that is thought to have experienced a notable decline. To document the status of S. georgianum in an area in which Piedmont prairie plant communities were historically present (Clemson Experimental Forest, Central, SC), we inventoried patches and flowers and collected seeds for a germination study. We found 37 patches across this 7,082-ha forested landscape, with an average of 25 flowers/patch. Seed germination rates were low, averaging 11%. In addition to fragmentation and low seed-germination rates, camera traps suggest herbivory from eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus J.A. Allen) further constrains the population. We conclude that forest management that creates, maintains, and connects early successional habitat is crucial in the conservation of S. georgianum.

Hunters’ preferences for engaging in control programs of introduced Eastern cottontails in Italy: a factorial survey approach

In Europe, invasive alien mammals are often controlled by voluntary hunters. However, no research investigated if control operations could be entirely performed by volunteers, nor how to maximize their recruitment. By using the Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) in Central Italy as a case study, we carried out a factorial survey over a sample of hunters (n = 134), exploring which attributes influenced their hypothetical participation to control programs for cottontails. Hunters were more willing to engage in control schemes if these included shooting sessions, not trapping. Moreover, they would have been more prone to control cottontails if they had received evidence of cottontail impacts over native wildlife or local crops. The geographical scale of the management plan and its goals and required efforts did not have any effect over the evaluation of management scenarios. As many European control schemes for invasive alien mammals are carried out in contexts where shooting is unfeasible, like urbanized neighborhoods, our findings show that agencies cannot entirely rely on volunteers and they should complement their limitations with full-time staff. Moreover, if wildlife agencies want to recruit volunteers, they should provide adequate information about the environmental and social impacts of invasive alien mammals.

Role of Predators, Terrain Ruggedness, and Plant Composition for the Abundance of the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus)

We studied factors that affect the abundance of feces of the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagusfloridanus) in an ecological reserve in Mexico City. We measured the abundance of fecal pellets as an estimator of cottontail abundance, as well as different factors that may affect their abundance: predator presence, terrain ruggedness, soil depth, and plant cover. We found that predator presence was the most important factor reducing the abundance of cottontails, whereas terrain ruggedness was the second most important because the cottontail cannot climb effectively. Plants were less significant than expected but Manfreda scabra had a substantial positive effect on cottontail abundance.

Arboreal Nesting by an Eastern Cottontail in a Suburban Setting

Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cottontail) is a common lagomorph of the eastern US. Despite a bounty of literature on the nesting ecology of this mammal, reports of arboreal nesting are largely absent from the literature. We report the first observation of an arboreal Eastern Cottontail nest since a report in 1940. The previous observation was of a nest situated in the crotch of a Salix spp. (willow) in New York; nest success was questionable. Our observation was in a suburban backyard. The rabbit placed her nest ~2.5 m above the ground, up a vertical slope of tightly-wound twining Wisteria spp. (wisteria) stems. The nest was successful; the 4 litter mates continued to use the site for ~10 days after leaving the nest before moving elsewhere in the suburban environment.