These keystone species play a vital role in ecosystems ... s frozen boreal forest to the concrete jungle of downtown Chicago. There are more than 60 different kinds of wild rabbits and hares ...

Think about a forest ecosystem. When rabbits have plenty of grass to eat and safe places to hide, their numbers grow. As rabbit populations increase, foxes find it easier to catch prey ...

Woody, invasive, aggressive species, such as buckthorn and honeysuckle, are targeted across the forest preserves ... necessary for ecosystems to thrive in the face of threats, Rabbit said.