in a area be killing the newly born rabbits in the nest? After a conversation I had with someone in the DOW, I'm wondering if this is a plausible explanation to having a perfect habitat for rabbits, with no rabbits to be found.

Coon are nest predators. Don't think they care of it's eggs, poults, or rabbits

I watched a feral cat... pull one by one out of a nest and across a black top. I don't know why a raccoon wouldn't eat them. My bet would be on feral cats.

Feral cats sure do , would not surprise me if coons would be any different.

Things would have to be way out of whack with the predator prey situation.
Rabbits are extremely prolific.
Unless there is zero furbearer management going on I cant see that as the main problem.
If it is there will be a natural re-set-rabies,distemper or other disease.

That's how I was thinking too Boco. I do know that this area is not being trapped for coon and there are high numbers there. There used to be a lot of bunnies, now none.

any predator will take a easy meal

Coons can definitely part of the problem of a low rabbit population. Birds of prey may even be a bigger part.

Keith

How big an area are you talking about?

We all know we have plenty of hawks and such.

Boco, This area is roughly 600 acres.

So how is their population in the surrounding several thousand acres?
If the population is an isolated pocket,they can be decimated,even eradicated,but unless the habitat is badly fragmented they should fill in rapidly to suitable habitat,unless the crash is widespread.

It's way down in the other areas, some hold none, some a few. I personally haven't seen a rabbit in a long time there. I know there's a ton of coons but I would think there's other things going on. I just don't know what, it's ideal habitat.

I would guess then if it is more widespread that tularemia or some other disease has pared them back,especially if they were abundant in the recent past.
Check the livers on any you get.

The guy I spoke to lives around there and says his rabbit population is good, I have no reason to doubt him, seems like a straight shooter. But that's on private property, and a little ways away from the area I mentioned.

Coons got a nest of rabbits in my flower bed earlier this summer.

I saw a video of a skunk killing a whitetail fawn too, that was crazy. The newborn fawn just layed there bawling.

Make some brush piles that's the number one way to increase rabbit populations other than decreasing Predator population

Got coyotes ?
Rabbits here nest and hide under evergreens within a foot of the house.
Sister couldn't believe the coyote tracks next to the house the morning after a rain.

Yes, there are some yotes and fox. But you would figure they would bounce back.

Around here they're heavy in the yards until the crops provide cover.
Now we don't see many until the crops come off.