15 baby rabbits born at an NYC zoo released in New England

Queens Zoo's breeding program aims to protect the vulnerable New England cottontail. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. The grey-brown New England cottontail ()--New England's only native rabbit --once thrived throughout the northeastern United States. In recent decades, however, the species' population has plummeted due to habitat loss, and its range has diminished by over 80 percent since the 1960s. What's more, New England cottontails are often outcompeted by the non-native eastern cottontail ().