Marsh Rabbit : Sylvilagus palustris Photo Barry Mansell ©. The Lower Keys marsh rabbit is habitat specific, depending upon a transition zone of grasses and sedges for feeding, shelter, and nesting. The greatest threat to their continued existence in Virginia is loss of their vulnerable habitat. The researchers analyzed aerial photographs from 1959 (when the rabbit was still plentiful) and 2006 and were able to show a 64 percent net loss of the marsh rabbit’s habitat — 48 percent of it due to sea level rise, said McCleery, a faculty member with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. On Virginia Water Radio for the Week of 8-10-20: Exploring the Current Health of the Chesapeake Bay. His clients’ principle interests are establishing and managing habitat for quail, rabbits, songbirds, and pollinating insects. You can distinguish a marsh rabbit by its smaller head, ears and feet and its small gray tail that is dark underneath. Lower Key marsh rabbits are endangered because of habitat fragmentation. Like other rabbits, the marsh rabbit has two pairs of upper incisor teeth. Little is known about the timing of their breeding activity in Virginia. The marsh rice rat is also adapted to the salt marsh habitat (Webster et al. Individuals can often be seen in the early morning hours feeding on the edge of these habitats. In Florida, this habitat includes everything from fresh and brackish marshes to wet prairies and flooded agricultural fields. There is also a species called swamp rabbits ( Sylvilagus aquaticus ), but they the largest species of rabbit in the Southeast and weight between 4 and 6.5 pounds. It is distinguished from its cottontail cousin in another important way — it is a strong swimmer and is usually found close to water. In general, other subspecies of S. palustrisare typically found in saltmarsh areas of slightly higher elevation, such as ridges or islands. The marsh rabbit consumes a variety of aquatic plants including marsh grass, cattail, rushes, water hyacinths, marsh pennywort, duck potato, and amaryllis. In 1996, Forys refined the habitat to be about 253 hectares (630 acres). Interestingly, the marsh rabbit is an excellent swimmer and often dives into water as a means of escape. Normally, marsh rabbits are restricted to relatively undisturbed wetlands. In contrast, the marsh rabbit has a small gray-brown tail. Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, See a full list of our Social Media accounts. As the name implies, the marsh rabbit is found only in undisturbed marsh. Lower Keys rabbits inhabit higher elevation levels around fresh and salt water marshes. Marsh rabbits are a species of rabbits that are adapted to live in wetlands. Habitat. They are nocturnal and solitary, but individuals may be seen gathered together in areas that have plenty of resources. Generally, female marsh rabbits are larger in size than males. Yet sadly, the beautiful small creature now finds itself limited to an extremely tiny portion of the area. This isolation may be the cause for the speciation from the Upper Keys marsh rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris paludicola. Population Status Photo by aalilith/iNaturalist, ... Water Quality and Habitat in Chesapeake Bay Tributaries and Coastal Waters. Like all rabbit species, marsh rabbits are completely herbivorous. The two main predators of the marsh rabbit are the great-horned owl and the marsh hawk. They are strictly limited to regions with ready access to water, unlike most rabbits. Bob Glennon is a private lands biologist serving clients of the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in southeastern Virginia. Often, they will enter tidal marshes, but remain near high ground for protection. They are also found along freshwater bordered by hammocks and flatwoods. Hurricanes and coastal flooding can take a significant toll on marsh rabbit populations, particularly young rabbits and nestlings. Their diet also consists of blackberry, greenbrier, and other woody and semi-woody plants. The marsh rabbit is restricted to the Coastal Plain of the southeastern U.S. As its name suggests, the marsh rabbit is found only in marshy habitats, where water is plentiful. The rabbits live in the grassy areas of both freshwater wetlands and salt marshes, where the tall grasses and sedges provide food, shelter and nesting sites. Marsh Rabbit, a semi-aquatic mammal found in Virginia. The marsh rabbit is a slightly smaller, darker version of the more familiar eastern cottontail rabbit, which is best known for its conspicuous cotton puff tail. The Challenge: The Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri - LKMR) and the Key Largo woodrat (Neotoma floridana smalli - KLWR) are two examples of endangered endemics of the Florida Keys that prove difficult to survey. Management for this species includes protecting its habitat and establishing new habitat through wetland restoration. Because they occupy aquatic habitats, marsh rabbits are not typically susceptible to overharvest. This species primarily occurs in the grassy marshes and prairies of the Lower Keys… While most rabbits run at the mere mention of a swim, the Marsh Rabbit is a very different breed indeed!Native to wet habitats in the Carolinas, they spend their entire lives in, near, and around water. They are most active at night, dusk and dawn, the same time many of the marsh rabbit's predators — owls, foxes, bobcats and alligators — are active as well. Remote cameras and other noninvasive techniques have recently become popular in surveys to better detect elusive and rare mammals. Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. It is about the same size as an eastern cottontail, but appears smaller because it has less hair. Marsh rabbits can be confused with the eastern cottontail. They can be found from fresh and brackish marshes to wet prairies and flooded fields. Reproduction is similar to that of the eastern cottontail. He has 40 years of experience in natural resource management. The rabbits are often found near water and in … Marsh rabbits are semi-aquatic and require vegetation near a permanent source of water. As the name implies, the marsh rabbit is found only in undisturbed marsh. As the name indicates, the seemingly fragile animal inhabits the Florida Keys, in the United States, in North America. In Virginia, they are found in several counties in the extreme southeastern portion of the state. Habitat. Little is known about the population status of marsh rabbits in Virginia, but they are likely stable where undisturbed marsh exists. They set up camp in a broad assortment of habitats, including woodlands, agricultural sites, sand dunes, deserts, mountains, shrublands, forests, grasslands, marshes and rainforests. Photo courtesy Ginger Allen, Florida Master Naturalist Program. There are three native species of rabbits in North Carolina. Unlike other Lagomorphs, the single most important factor limiting the distribution of this species is the availability of water. The marsh rabbit looks quite different than the cottontails. determined the habitat occupied of S. p. hefneri to be 317 hectares (780 acres) in 1995 with 81 suitable habitats. The gray desert rabbit resembles cottontails, but it has larger ears, and it adapted in living in extreme temperatures. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission • Farris Bryant Building Marsh rabbit habitat Mainland marsh rabbits from Dismal swamp lives within the regions along the eastern coast to Florida’s northern areas and meandering through the Gulf Coast into Mobile Bay, Alabama. They will inhabit salt and brackish marsh but prefer freshwater. They are found near freshwater marshes and estuarine areas. While originally from Europe and Africa, rabbits are now found all over the world. Forys et al. It lives within the range of 40 miles of coast and very rarely goes outside of this range. Other predators include bobcats, foxes, mink, and alligators (not in Virginia). Pursuant to section 120.74, Florida Statutes, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has published its 2019 Agency Regulatory Plan. Interestingly, the marsh rabbit is an excellent swimmer and often dives into water as a means of escape. This is the most aquatic of North American rabbits. They are likely susceptible to the same diseases as cottontails. Assessing Endangered Marsh Rabbit and Woodrat Habitat use and Predator Population Dynamics Feral and free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) have strong negative effects on wildlife, particularly in island ecosystems such as … It is distinguished from its cottontail cousin in another important way — it is a strong swimmer and is usually found close to water. The legs and ears of the marsh rabbit are shorter. On average, a female marsh rabbit produces six or seven litters of two to four young per litter each year. However, the gestation period is a bit longer at 30-37 days. Unlike other rabbits, their distribution is determined by the availability of water. Copyright 1999 - 2020 State of Florida. It isn't even uncommon for wild rabbits to occupy the frigid landscapes of tundras. They will inhabit salt and brackish marsh but prefer freshwater. Marsh rabbits are found on the coastal plains from Virginia to Alabama and throughout Florida but they only live where there is water. Because they occupy aquatic habitats, marsh rabbits are not typically susceptible to overharvest. Marsh rabbits also have sparse amounts of fur and have long toenails on their hind feet. Swamp rabbits are well named—they prefer to live in swampy lowlands, floodplains, cypress swamps, and along edges of rivers and creeks. Posted on August 11, 2020 | Leave a comment. Rattlesnakes and water moccasins prey on young. By four weeks of age, the young rabbits are weaned and are foraging for themselves. The nests are lined with grass and breast fur and are located on the ground in thickets, stumps or logs. It is darker in color and is the only member of Sylvilagus in which the underside of the tail is not white. They occupy most of the world’s land masses, except for southern South America, the West Indies, Madagascar, and most islands southeast of Asia, according to ADW. The marsh rabbit commonly inhabits brackish and freshwater marshes, mainly of cattails and cypress. Also, marsh rabbits have been reported to breed year-round in other states. © 2020 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Marsh rabbits are found in lowland areas, not exceeding 152 meters in elevation. Swamp rabbits are found in the Gulf Coast and south-central region of the United States. Habitat: The marsh rabbit is found throughout Florida. (Jones, 1997; Wilson and Ruff, 1999) Habitat Regions; temperate; terrestrial; freshwater; Aquatic Biomes; brackish water; Wetlands Lower Keys marsh rabbits usually travel through a variety of habitats between their natal and permanent home ranges, including areas with dense ground cover, mangroves, upland hardwood hammocks, and vegetation between the road shoulder and the water (Forys and Humphrey 1994). Marsh Rabbit Marsh rabbits, being semiaquatic animals, require dense habitat adjacent to a permanent water source, such as lakes, streams, canals, ditches, and wetlands. The species, which likely lives in a small, semi-isolated mountain range in the Sierra Madre del Sur, Guerrero, Mexico, is known from only four specimens, the most recent a … Breeding occurs year-round but peaks December through June. Marsh rabbits eat a variety of plants found in and around wetlands. The marsh rabbit is slightly smaller and darker than the eastern cottontail and its tail forms a brown tuft (no cottontail). This species is endemic to the Florida Keys from Big Pine Key to Boca Chica Key (Florida Natural Areas inventory 2001). Marsh rabbit. They are strictly limited to regions with ready access to water, unlike most rabbits. Normal hiding spots include dense thickets of magnolia, black-gum, sweet-gum, briers, and cattails. Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) (Public domain.) Its toenails are considerably longer than those of cottontails. Habitat and Diet These rabbits seek out habitat on the fringes of open spaces, such as fields, meadows, and farms, but can adapt to other habitats—including those of humans. HABITAT: Marsh rabbits are strong swimmers and usually found close to water. Unlike other Sylvilagus, this species is confined solely to marshy habitats. Other rabbits thrive in marshes and wetlands. In Florida, this habitat includes everything from fresh and brackish marshes … Marsh rabbits are found north to the Virginia coast, southwest to Alabama's coast and south through Georgia and Florida. Habitat: The marsh rabbit commonly inhabits brackish and freshwater marshes, mainly of cattails and cypress. This is one of the most endangered rabbits in the world as the result of poaching and habitat destruction. Markedly different even from other wild rabbit breeds, these “swamp rabbits” hold a peculiar place in Appalachian culture. The palustrine ecosystem is the most diverse habitat in the ACE Basin study area. Habitat Marsh Rabbits are found in lowland, marshy areas near to a permanent source of water in south eastern USA. The wonderful Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit apparently never had a large range to begin with. 620 S. Meridian St. • Tallahassee, FL • (850) 488-4676 The marsh rabbit is found throughout Florida. In southern Florida, they commonly occupy sandy islands and mangrove swamps. Conservation efforts have been made to reintroduce some species of marsh rabbits to … Marsh rabbits are found in close proximity to water in a variety of habitats, including salt marsh, freshwater marsh, wet prairie, coastal beach berms, mangrove swamps, hammocks, sugarcane and other agricultural fields, lake margins and vegetation along canals, ditches, and roadsides. In Florida, that could be a fresh- or saltwater marsh, wet prairie or a … For example, the marsh rabbit, which is often abundant in the brackish marshes of coastal zones, feeds upon a variety of brackish marsh plants including marsh pennywort and cattails. In southern Florida, they commonly occupy sandy islands and mangrove swamps. They are most abundant in the Dismal Swamp. Marsh rabbits are approximately 40 cm (16 in) long and weigh 1-2 kilograms (2-5 lbs). On the whole, rabbits can successfully survive in the majority of climates. 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