Body Weight as an Indicator of Vulnerability to Domestic Cat Predation for Juveniles of Three Species of Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.) in Colorado, USA: Implications for Release Criteria.

Cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.) are frequently admitted to wildlife rehabilitation facilities due to predation by domestic cats (Felis catus). Our retrospective study (2015-19) of three species (Sylvilagus audubonii, Sylvilagus floridanus, and Sylvilagus nuttallii) indicated that once juveniles reached a weight over 220 g, they were unlikely to present due to domestic cat interactions. This information should be incorporated into release criteria for these species.