Route 202 Through Litchfield County is Teeming with Cottontail Rabbits

I love animals, and it destroys me when I hit one with my vehicle. Today I almost hit three rabbits, but there are good reasons for that.

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I drive to work when most of you are still asleep at 4am, and most mornings I have Rt. 202 to myself between Torrington and New Milford/Brookfield. Not today, I almost hit three rabbits on my ride in, in Bantam, New Preston, and New Milford. I know rabbits notoriously reproduce like, well, rabbits. But is this the 'It's mating season, I'm ready, let's blindly run in front of that Subaru' time of the year? I did some reading.

According to the State of Connecticut's Map of New England Cottontail Focus Areas & Known Locations, Northwestern Connecticut is THE area of the state, along with a smidge of the Southeastern corner for the heavy forest cover that the two species found in Connecticut, the Eastern Cottontail (More abundant) and the New England Cottontail, can survive and thrive in. It's up to us private homeowners and land owners in these areas to provide a safe refuge, as 90% of the land in Connecticut is privately owned.

Both species of Cottontails grow to around 3 pounds, and average 18 inches in length, according to ct.gov. The open fields, meadows, and open acres of yards along Rt. 202 in between Torrington and New Milford are perfect habitats, and Cottontails are herbivores, preferring to munch on grass, leaves, your crops, or your herb garden, as Artie Bucco found out. Breeding season? Yep, you guessed it, March through early fall. Get ready for a bunch of cute baby bunnies Litchfield County, they're being made right now in your backyard.