Nuttall’s cottontail (nuttallii subspecies) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11
Technical Summary
Sylvilagus nuttallii nuttallii
Nuttall’s Cottontail - nuttallii subspecies – Lapin de Nuttall de la sous-espèce nuttallii
Range of Occurrence in Canada:
British Columbia
Extent and Area Information
Extent of occurrence (EO)(km²) map in report based on all known recent and historical occurrences
1,380 km²
Specify trend in EO
Unknown
Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?
No
Area of occupancy (AO) (km²)
Unknown
Specify trend in AO
-
Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?
-
Number of known or inferred current locations
40
Specify trend in #
Probably declining
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?
No
Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat
Habitat declining
Population Information
Generation time (average age of parents in the population)
1 year
Number of mature individuals
Less than 3500 based on available habitat
Total population trend:
Unknown
% decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations.
-
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?
Unknown
Is the total population severely fragmented?
Unknown
Specify trend in number of populations
-
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?
-
List populations with number of mature individuals in each:
-
Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)
Habitat loss from urbanization and agriculture (orchards and vineyards)
Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)
Status of outside population(s)?
USA: Washington S5 (Secure)
Is immigration known or possible?
Yes
Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?
Yes
Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada?
Yes
Is rescue from outside populations likely?
Unknown
Quantitative Analysis
Current Status
COSEWIC: Special Concern, April 1994; Special Concern, 2006
Status and Reasons for Designation
Status: Special Concern
Alpha-numeric code: n/a
Reasons for Designation: This rabbit was first recorded in Canada about 70 years ago and has since increased its range in the Okanagan, where it may have reached the maximum possible extent of its distribution. Remaining rabbit habitat in the Okanagan is less than 8000 hectares, increasingly fragmented, and continues to be lost to urbanization and agriculture. The total population size, based on available habitat, is probably less than 3500 individuals. Rescue potential from Washington is minimal because of the declining availability of habitat. There are substantial uncertainties about the current area of occupancy, which may have declined over the last few decades as habitat has been lost.
Applicability of Criteria
- Criterion A: A recent immigrant to the Okanagan, no recent evidence of population decline, but habitat availability is declining.
- Criterion B: Exact extent of distribution is unknown. There is no clear evidence of decline but there are no recent surveys.
- Criterion C: Population size is unknown.
- Criterion D: Population size is unknown but likely more than 1000.
- Criterion E: Not available.
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