UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FARMERS' BULLETIN
Washington, D. C. 702 January 17, 1916
Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey, Henry W. Henshaw,Chief.
COTTONTAIL RABBITS IN RELATION TO TREES AND FARM CROPS.
By D. E. Lantz, Assistant Biologist.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Introduction 1
Habits of cottontail rabbits 2
Protection of rabbits 3
Means of repressing rabbits 5
Natural enemies 5
Hunting 6
Trapping 6
Poisoning 9
Bacterial diseases 10
Protection of crops from rabbits 10
Rabbit-proof fences 10
Tree protection 10
Washes 10
Mechanical contrivances 11
Other means 12
Note.—This bulletin discusses the distribution and habits of cottontailrabbits and methods of controlling their ravages on trees and cultivatedcrops by means of trapping, poisoning, and supplying safeguards. Forgeneral distribution.
INTRODUCTION.
Among the serious pests in orchards and tree plantations are the severalnative species of rabbits. These animals do considerable damage togarden truck and other farm crops also, especially on lands recentlyopened to cultivation. North American rabbits belong to two generalclasses easily distinguished by their size and habits.
The larger forms[1] include the arctic and varying hares, or snowshoerabbits, and the jack rabbits, and are found throughout nearly all ofAlaska and Canada and in all the States west of the Mississippi exceptArkansas and Louisiana. East of the Mississippi they inhabit thenorthern parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, most of New Yorkand New England, and southward in the Appalachian Mountains, parts ofPennsylvania, Maryland, and Virgin