Squirrel and Rabbit Abundances in the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana

Relative abundances ofgray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), fox squirrels (Sciurus niger), and swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) were determined in three main forest types of the A tchafalaya River Basin. Squirrel observations and rabbit fecal pellets were used to index population densities. Squirrel abundance varied by overstory type (P<0.0l) and was highest in bottomland hardwoods (CeltisFraxinus- Liquidambar-Ulmus). A significant difference was not indicated between squirrel densities in cypress-tupelo (Taxodium-Nyssa) or cottonwood-willow-sycamore (Populus-Salix-Platanus). Rabbit abundance varied by overstory type (P<0.0l) with highest densities in bottomland hardwoods and lowest densities in cypress-tupelo.