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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