MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Vol. 1, No. 2 
Page 2 
figure was down to 0.56 rabbits per mile from 1.27 for last month. Some of this 
decline was caused when adverse weather inhibited rabbit activity. 
Examination of 1*5 rabbits from central Illinois indicated initiation 
of the breeding season during the last week of this month. Thirty-three were 
males, all in full breeding condition. None of the 12 females contained embryos 
or showed sites of implantation of the zygote on the uterine mucosa, but all 
showed preparation of the uterus for breeding. Three had ovulated indicating that 
copulation had occurred because rabbits are induced ovulators. 
W-52-R-3*' P. Vohs, R. Conder 
The first utilization of a wide-row field by Canada geese during 1957-58 
occurred at the Bradley area on February 19, 1958. The geese fed at night under 
clear skies. An accurate estimate of their numbers could not be made. By Febru¬ 
ary 2li, they had eaten the waste corn, and, in addition, much of the interseeding 
of yellow sweet clover which was showing spring growth. TT aste grain was still 
evident in the control field. Systematic counts revealed O.Oi* goose droppings 
per square foot in the wide-row field and none in the standard interval control 
field. 
In the Little Grassy Area, counts revealed 0.31 rabbit pellets per 
square foot in the control field as compared to 1.11 in the wide-row field with 
an interseeding of millet-ryegrass-yellow sweet clover and 2.06 in the Korean 
lespedeza-orchardgrass-red clover interseeding. In the Bradley area, a decrease 
in the pellet count seemed to indicate that utilization of the interseeding and 
waste corn in the wide-row field by geese had reduced its attractiveness for 
rabbits* The count of 0.99 pellets per square foot in the wide-row field, how¬ 
ever, was still more than three times the number ( 0 * 31 ) obtained in the control 
field. 
W-55-R-2 F. Bellrose 
The first "spring" waterfowl census was made on February 25* 1958. It 
revealed that the spring flight of ducks was just commencing to appear in the 
southern end of the flight route. In comparison with waterfowl populations found 
on February 28, 1957* those on February 25* 1958 were much lower, indicating that 
the abnormally cold weather in February of this year, materially retarded the 
initiation of migration. 
W-56—R-2 G. Sanderson, K. Johnson 
The search for tree dens which could be used by raccoons and X'jcod ducks 
was continued on the study areas near Havana. Thus far, approximately 65 cavities 
have been measured and recorded* 
Southern Illinois University, cooperating. 
