The new england cottontail is an imperiled species in 5 northeast states connecticut, massachusetts, maine, new york and rhode island

Regional efforts to restore the species have been underway since 2008. Since then, the number of occupied habitat patches has continued to decline, due mostly to habitat succession and development pressure. Management efforts to date include creation of early successional habitat, captive breeding and reintroduction, and land conservation. These efforts have been confounded by the presence of eastern cottontails, which in many instances pioneer new habitat patches more readily than new england cottontail . The purpose of this project is to conduct a population viability analysis of new england cottontail to assist state managers in their determination of where restoration efforts are most appropriate and which management actions will be most beneficial. Abundance estimates will be developed through collaboration between the state agencies, the university of new hampshire and the university of connecticut during years 1 3 of the project, and the decision support tool will be developed by researchers at south dakota state university in conjunction with state agency staff in years 3 5. Expected outcomes will include a rangewide abundance estimate and a userfriendly decision support tool. The intended beneficiaries are state wildlife agency managers. Subrecipients include the wildlife management institute, handling overall project coordination, the university of connecticut, the university of new hampshire and south dakota state university, for research coordination, data analysis, modeling and a decision support tool development.