Winter Relative Abundance and Habitat Associations of Swamp Rabbits in Eastern Arkansas

Abstract

Habitat loss coupled with decline in harvest has raised concern for Sylvilagus aquaticus (swamp rabbit) in Arkansas. We assessed relative abundance and habitat associations of swamp rabbits in eastern Arkansas using presence of latrine sites. We searched for fecal pellets at randomly chosen sites during winters 2002–03 and 2003–04. Swamp rabbits were detected at 85% and 76% of sites searched during years 1 and 2, respectively. Bignonia capreolata (crossvine) stem density was significantly greater at sites inhabited by swamp rabbits (mean = 625, SE = 141) than at uninhabited sites (mean = 0.00, SE = 0.00) in year 1, but no differences were found in year 2. We found no relationship between woodland tract size and pellet-group density. Logistic regression predicted presence of swamp rabbits 88.3% of the time based on crossvine density and percent ground cover of grasses. To understand the potential for conserving swamp rabbit populations in Arkansas, it will be necessary to assess remaining bottomland hardwood stands in relation to the quality of swamp rabbit habitat.