For this interview I get to talk with Jeremy Pustilnik and Paul Curtis about a recently published paper from the journal “Urban Ecosystems” on the interactions of Eastern Cottontail Rabbits (Syvilagus floridanus) and Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) around the use of Groundhog (Marmota monax) burrows and if the scent of Red Fox urine would dissuade the Cottontails from using the burrows. Not only does the paper cover this issue, but also invites some more complexity by looking at other animals, including specific reference to the Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis), and how and when those Skunks use the Groundhog burrows themselves.
The paper offers a lot of depth and detail around the broad intersectional ecology of the Groundhog burrow, who uses this burrow and why, and if by use of olfactory inputs from a local predator, would this act as deterrent to those species who use the burrows.
It was a lot of fun to get to dig in with these two biologists on their research, their experience and their passion for the work.
To read the paper :
“The effects of red fox scent on winter activity patterns of suburban wildlife: evaluating predator-prey interactions and the importance of groundhog burrows in promoting biodiversity” by authors Jeremy D. Pustilnik, Jeremy B. Searle, and Paul D. Curtis
image of Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) taken from study, provided by Jeremy Pustilnik.