Appalachian Cottontail Inventory at Fort Necessity National Battlefield 2024 - Open Format Dataset

The aim of this project was to determine if Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) is present within Fort Necessity National Battlefield (FONE) to inform natural resource management. Sylvilagus obscurus is listed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PAGC) as a species of greatest conservation need in the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan (2015-2025), yet little is known about their current population distribution in the Laurel Highlands area of southwestern Pennsylvania, where FONE is located. To gain a preliminary understanding of S. obscurus presence in FONE, we surveyed 20 randomly located plots for fecal pellets two times in February 2024. We also collected fecal pellets that were found incidentally while conducting the surveys. Thirty-two samples were collected, documented, and taken to the Pennsylvania State University genetics lab at the completion of field work. Genetic analysis indicated that six samples belonged to S. obscurus, thereby confirming the presence of S. obscurus within FONE and providing park biologists with preliminary occurrence data on a species of concern to inform management decisions.