THE COTTONTAIL 



137 



branches and twigs being cut off. Some of the damage done by 

 field mice is often attributed to rabbits; the tooth marks of the 

 former, however, are small, and they usually begin their work 

 at or below the surface of the ground ; rabbits, also, usually tear 

 off the bark in strips. In addition, in many cases nurseries of 

 young fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs are severely damaged 

 by rabbits. 



Such a prolific and destructive animal must be held in check 

 in some way, else it so increases as to be3ome a menace to agricul- 

 ture. Among the natural enemies of the cottontail which are espe- 

 cially effective in reducing their numbers are the hawks, owls, 

 and carnivorous mammals. Of the former may be mentioned the 

 marsh hawk, Cooper's hawk, Swainson's hawk, red-tailed hawk, 

 rough-legged hawk, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, barred owl, 

 and great horned owl. At least some of these birds are found in 

 every locality in the state; and as practically all of them feed 

 upon other noxious animals, they should be protected and not wan- 

 tonly destroyed. Of the mammals, wolves, foxes, minks, weasels, 

 and domestic dogs and oats are effective in keeping down the num- 

 bers of rabbits. 



FIG. 37. Details of a Wellhouse Rabbit trap. (From U. S. Department o\ 

 Agriculture, Bureau of Biological Survey.) 



In Iowa, at least, hunting has been the most effective method 

 for holding in check the number of rabbits and of the methods of 

 hunting, shooting seems to be generally chosen. The manager of 

 the Welch Nursery at Shenandoah informs the writer that, with 

 them, hunting is the most successful method of combating the cot- 

 ion tail and the proprietors of the nursery employ hunters and 



