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VoX. 4, No. 7 
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4. Rabbit Management R. D. Lord, D. A. Casteel 
Tabulation of a voluminous amount of activity data taken on caged rabbits 
from April 1, 1960, to March 31, 1961, was completed this month. Analysis of these 
data has just begun; however, it is already apparent that with only a few signifi¬ 
cant differences, the results of this detailed study closely parallel those obtained 
through the roadside census technique. In the roadside study of seasonal changes in 
activity of cottontails, the peak of activity occurred at the population low in 
April. The caged rabbits showed a similar peak of activity in April. Thus, these 
findings emphasize the point that the number of rabbits seen along roads is far 
more indicative of their activity than of their numbers. The peak of rabbit abun¬ 
dance occurs in June and July, but by this time the activity of the rabbits has be¬ 
gun to decline showing far fewer rabbits on the roads. 
The roadside census of rabbit activity shows the low point in the annual 
cycle to be in September. In caged rabbits the low point in annual activity came in 
January. This point also sheds light on the factors affecting roadside censuses. 
With the coming of winter rabbits become far more visible due to the effects of wea¬ 
ther on the dead vegetation. Of course, a background of snow makes them easily 
seen. Thus, the roadside census figures show an increase during the winter even 
though both the population and the activity of rabbits is on the decline. 
5. Investigations of Furbearers R. J. Ellis, T. U. Meyers 
Since March 1, 1961, 125 natural cavities in trees and judged to be suitable 
for wood duck nesting were found on the study area near Havana. An attempt was made 
to protect 25 (20 per cent) of the cavities by placing sheet metal bands 14 inches 
wide around the trees and below the cavities. 
All cavities were inspected at regular intervals of 7 to 10 days. The find¬ 
ings are presented in table 1. These data show that the metal bands effectively 
protected the nests from raccoons but not from fox squirrels. Unlike raccoons, fox 
squirrels easily move from tree to tree through the branches and thereby are able 
to reach the cavities from above. 
Table 1. Fates of thirty-two wood duck nests observed in natural tree 
cavities near Havana, March through June, 1961. 
Number Nests Affected 
Fate of Nests 
Nests Not Protected Nests Protected by 
by Metal Bands Metal Bands 
Hatched 
7 
(28.0)* 
3 
(43) 
Deserted 
2 
( 8.0) 
0 
Destroyed by raccoons 
10 
(40.0) 
0 
(57) 
Destroyed by fox squirrels 
5 
(20.0) 
4 
Destroyed by tree damage 
1 
( 4.0) 
0 
Total 
25 
(100.0) 
7 
(100.0) 
'"'Numbers in parentheses indicate percentage of the total 
