Some sort of wood rat found in a cave in Cooper Rock forest, last photo is its nest.
The Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) is a species of pack rat found in the eastern US. It has brown fur and a furry tail and lives in deep crevices in rock outcroppings and cliffs and talus sloped mountainsides. They leave caches of folded up vegetation and other food items under rock overhangs and use flat rocks as latrines. Their population is in decline from deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and raccoon roundworm among other causes.
I have tried to think about what this could be from. So I am by far not certain. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Looking online I see pics of droppings that look like a close match. But also ones that are more elongated. I am now leaning away from Neotoma but will leave the id to get attention and a bit of help. I am going to feel very stupid if this is from a baby bunny.
Woodrat live-trapped, radiocollar applied, and released - research protocol. In talus rockpile on ridge. Den was down in rocks as triangulated by radiocollar.