Musquash to Serve as Rabbit Habitat

A 28-acre plot of land in the Musquash Conservartion Area is set to be preserved as a protected rabbit habitat for a specific endangered species.

According to Emma Carcago, who serves as a wildlife program assistant at the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, the New England cottontail is a state endangered species. She said that there are likely less than 100 in New Hampshire.

"There are about five to six known locations of existing populations in New Hampshire," she said.

Part of the reason for the dwindling numbers comes from the specific habitat requirement of the species – a very dense, shrubby area.

Ideally, Carcago said that the New England cottontail needs a minimum of five acres of shrubby habitat, but the ideal total is 20 acres or more.

"It is hard to identify a 20-acre patch of shrubby habitat," she said. "They require the habitat to protect against predators. They don't turn white like snowshoe hares do in the winter"

Deb Lievens of Londonderry's Conservation Commission indicated that the preserve for the species will be located at the Musquash entrance at Faucher Road.

"That portion is the closest to where the rabbit currently is," she said.

Carcago added that the known population is less than two miles from the desired preservation area.

Lievens said that trees in the 28-acre area will be kicked out and harvested for lumber. The whole process will take two years, with three or five needed for the thickets to be developed for the rabbits.

"Our job is to encourage people to understand that this is really good for the rabbit habitat," Lievens said. "It's good to develop shrub habitat in the area."

Lievens added that the money made from logging will pretty much pay for the first part of the project.

Through New Hampshire Fish and Game, Lievens said that there are management grants that can fund much of the work as well.

Carcago said that many species will benefit from the habitat, adding that it will not just be a "wasteland for five years" before rabbits end up there.

The UNH Cooperative Extension and N.H. Fish and Game have already worked with the towns of Pelham, Lee, Durham and Dover on similar projects.

Carcago also indicated future plans in the Musquash if all goes well.

"First we're seeing how this responds, and then working with the town over time, then talking in another five years or so moving a bit south in the Musquash and making some smaller openings to connect (the habitat) to some other areas that sort of naturally have that shrubby habitat," she said.