Jeffery D. Sole

Of 550 rabbit heads collected from 35 counties in central and eastern Kentucky, 73 (13.3%) were identified as Appalachian cottontails (Sylvilagus obscurus). These collections document the Appalachian cottontail in 20 counties covering a large part of Kentucky and suggest Appalachian cottontails exist throughout the Cumberland Mountains and Cumberland Plateau of the Eastern Coal Field and in portions of the Outer Bluegrass and Knobs physiographic regions. Appalachian cottontails and eastern cottontails (S. floridanus) often were found living sympatrically in early-successional forests....

Significant declines in forested bottomlands are a basis for concern about the status of swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) in Kentucky. Current swamp rabbit distribution was determined through staff surveys and field investigations. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) personnel were surveyed to document their knowledge of swamp rabbit occurrence. County maps were marked to show areas where swamp rabbits were (1) thought to currently exist; (2) extirpated; and (3) areas which had potential habitat but unknown status of occupancy of swamp rabbits. These data...