Snowshoe Hare Cover Relationships in Northern Utah

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Wildlife Management

Publication Date

1982

Volume

46

Issue

3

Abstract

Habitat use by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) of several montane forest types was studied at 2 locations in northern Utah from 1973 to 1978. Vegetation types studied were: quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) with sparse and dense understory conditions; dry, subalpine meadow; subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa); Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii); and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). During the study, portions of the aspen stands on 1 area were clear-cut in small (1-4 hal blocks. Results of hare fecal pellet counts showed significant (P < 0.05) differences in pellet numbers among the vegetation types studied and a strong correlation between hare use and horizontal cover densities at heights of 1.0-2.5 m above ground in the understory vegetation profile. Vegetation types in which cover densities above the snow level (1.0-1.5 m) were at least 40% accounted for 85% of the winter use by the hares.

Comments

Originally published by the Wildlife Society. Publisher's PDF available through remote link via JSTOR.
Note: This article appeared in the Journal of Wildlife Management.

First Page

662

Last Page

670

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