A physiological study of the cottontail rabbit in Eastern Kansas.

Abstract

A physiological study of the cottontail rabbit was conducted on approximately 100 acres of Ross Natural History Reservation in Lyon County, Kansas, and in portions of Osage and Coffey counties. Two groups of rabbits were sampled: those that were live trapped on the Reservation and those that were shot in Lyon, Osage, and Coffey counties. Blood samples were removed from live trapped rabbits. Blood and liver samples were taken from shot rabbits and adrenals removed from shot rabbits and weighed. Blood glucose samples for live trapped rabbits ranged from 121 to 254 mg/100 ml of sample. Blood glucose values for shot rabbits ranged • from 110 to 278 mg/100 ml. Liver glycogen for shot rabbits ranged from 0.135 to 1.353 per cent glycogen by weight. Adrenal weights ranged from 0.007 to 0.044 g/100 g body weight. Statistical tests were made using the Student t test at the p=.05 level of significance to determine if there were differences between the sexes, the seasons, or time the samples were collected for blood, liver, and adrenals. Trapping results were recorded from 1 May 1975 to 1 May 1978. From 1 May 1976 to 1 May 1977, 157 rabbits were captured for a mean of 0.45 captures per 100 trap nights. Sixty-seven rabbits were captured from 1 May 1977 to 1 May 1978 for a mean of 0.24 captures per 100 trap nights. A peak in trapping success was noted in October and November. A daily roadside survey was conducted from 1 May 1975 to 1 May 1978. From 1 May 1975 to 1 May 1976, 465 rabbits were observed with a mean of 1.43 rabbits per 100 miles. From 1 May 1976 to 1 May 1977, 1110 rabbits were observed for a mean of 2.71 rabbits per 100 miles. In the last period, 1 May 1977 to 1 May 1978, 598 rabbits were observed for a mean of 2.23 rabbits per 100 miles. An increase in sightings was noted in June and July.