Saving Coastal Bunnies In Maine

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The Inn by the Sea near Portland is Maine’s premier luxury beach resort, boasting dramatic Atlantic views, a soft white sand beach, and … bunnies. New England Cottontails aren’t just Easter visitors here. They’re native to coastal Maine but also endangered. In an effort to stop New England Cottontails from disappearing in Maine, Inn by the Sea and the Maine Department of Conservation and Bureau of Parks and Lands are collaborating to restore habitat – or “Rabbitat,” if you will — for the endangered rabbits at Crescent Beach State Park. Loss of native shrubland and predation are causes commonly attributed to the region’s dwindling Cottontail populations. Cottontail habitats typically include a combination of local shrubs, vines, dense thicket and wetlands. Paul and Elizabeth chat with Rauni Kew, the inn’s direcotor of green hospitality and an expert on Maine’s coastal rabbits.