JACKRABBITS and OTHER HARES James E
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln The aH ndbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for Damage 1-1-1994 JACKRABBITS AND OTHER HARES James E. Knight Extension Wildlife Specialist, Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717 Knight, James E., "JACKRABBITS AND OTHER HARES" (1994). The Handbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage. Paper 54. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdmhandbook/54 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aH ndbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. James E. Knight Extension Wildlife Specialist Animal and Range Sciences JACKRABBITS AND Montana State University Bozeman, Montana 59717 OTHER HARES Fig. 1. Blacktail jackrabbit, Lepus californicus (left); whitetail jackrabbits, L. townsendii (middle); showshoe hare, L. americanus (right). Damage Prevention and Frightening Trapping Control Methods Guard dogs. Body-gripping and leghold traps. Repellents Box traps. Exclusion Ammonium soaps, capsaicin, naphtha- Shooting Fencing. lene, thiram, tobacco dust, ziram. Spotlighting and day shooting are Tree trunk guards. Toxicants effective where legal. Cultural Methods Anticoagulants (where registered). Hunting. Manipulation of habitat. Fumigants Other Methods Planting of less desirable crops. None are registered. Predators. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE — 1994 Cooperative Extension Division Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska - Lincoln United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Damage Control D-81 Great Plains Agricultural Council Wildlife Committee a b c Fig. 2. Range of the (a) whitetail jackrabbit, (b) blacktail jackrabbit, and (c) snowshoe hare. Identification in size. This nonnative hare is brown- Where food and shelter are available ish gray year-round. in one place, no major daily movement Three major species of jackrabbits of hares occurs. When food areas and occur in North America (Fig. 1). These shelter areas are separated, morning hares are of the genus Lepus and are Range and evening movements may be represented primarily by the blacktail The whitetail jackrabbit is found observed. Daily movements of 1 to 2 jackrabbit, the whitetail jackrabbit, and mainly in the north central and north- miles (1.6 to 3.2 km) each way are the snowshoe hare. Other members of western United States and no further fairly common. In dry seasons, 10-mile this genus include the antelope jack- south than the extreme north central (16-km) round trips from desert to rabbit and the European hare. Hares part of New Mexico and southern alfalfa fields have been reported. have large, long ears, long legs, and a Kansas (Fig. 2a).The blacktail jack- larger body size than rabbits. rabbit is found mainly in the south- Damage The whitetail jackrabbit is the largest western United States and the hare in the Great Plains, having a head southern Great Plains, and no further Hares consume 1/2 to 1 pound (1.1 to and body length of 18 to 22 inches (46 north than central South Dakota and 2.2 kg) of green vegetation each day. to 56 cm) and weighing 5 to 10 pounds southern Washington (Fig. 2b). Snow- Significant damage occurs when hare (2.2 to 4.5 kg). It is brownish gray in shoe hares occupy the northern concentrations are attracted to summer and white or pale gray in regions of North America, including orchards, gardens, ornamentals, or winter. The entire tail is white. The Canada, Alaska, the northern conti- other agricultural crops. High jack- blacktail jackrabbit, somewhat smaller nental United States, and the higher rabbit populations can also damage than its northern cousin, weighs only 3 elevations as far south as New Mexico range vegetation. to 7 pounds (1.3 to 3.1 kg) and is 17 to (Fig. 2c). Antelope jackrabbits are Most damage to gardens, landscapes, 21 inches (43 to 53 cm) long. It has a found only in southern Arizona, New or agricultural crops occurs in areas grayish-brown body, large black- Mexico, and western Mexico. The adjacent to swamps or rangeland nor- tipped ears, and a black streak on the European hare is found only in south- mally used by hares. Damage may be top of its tail. The snowshoe hare is 13 ern Quebec, New York, and other temporary and usually occurs when to 18 inches (33 to 46 cm) long and New England states. natural vegetation is dry. Green vege- weighs 2 to 4 pounds (0.9 to 1.8 kg). It General Biology, tation may be severely damaged dur- has larger feet than the whitetail and ing these dry periods. blacktail jackrabbits. The snowshoe Reproduction, and turns white in winter and is a dark Behavior Orchards and ornamental trees and brown during the summer. Its ears are shrubs are usually damaged by smaller than those of the other hares. Members of the genus Lepus are born overbrowsing, girdling, and stripping The antelope jackrabbit is 19 to 21 well-furred and able to move about. of bark, especially by snowshoe hares. inches (48 to 53 cm) long and weighs 6 Little or no nest is prepared, although This type of damage is most common to 13 pounds (2.7 to 5.9 kg). Its ears are the young are kept hidden for 3 to 4 during winter in northern areas. extremely large and its sides are a pale days. Females may produce up to 4 Rangeland overbrowsing and over- white. The European hare is the largest litters per year with 2 to 8 young per grazing can occur any time jackrabbit of the hares in the Northeast, weighing litter. Reproductive rates may vary numbers are high. Eight jackrabbits are 7 to 10 pounds (3.1 to 4.5 kg) and from year to year depending on estimated to eat as much as one sheep, reaching 25 to 27 inches (63 to 68 cm) environmental conditions. and 41 jackrabbits as much as one cow. D-82 Estimates of jackrabbit populations gizers and high-tensile wire will mini- Repellents run as high as 400 jackrabbits per mize cost and maximize effectiveness. Since state pesticide registrations vary, square mile (154/km2) extending over Tree Trunk Guards. The use of indi- check with your local Cooperative several hundred square miles. Range vidual protectors to guard the trunks Extension or USDA-APHIS-ADC damage can be severe in such situa- of young trees or vines may also be office for information on repellents le- tions, especially where vegetation pro- considered a form of exclusion. gal in your area. ductivity is low. Among the best of these are cylinders Various chemical repellents are offered made from woven wire netting. as a means of reducing or preventing Legal Status Twelve- to 18-inch-wide (30.5- to 45.7- hare damage to trees, vines, or farm cm) strips of 1-inch (2.5-cm) mesh Jackrabbits are considered nongame and garden crops. Repellents make poultry netting can be formed into cyl- animals in most states and are not protected plants distasteful to jack- inders around trees. Cylinders should protected by state game laws. A few rabbits. A satisfactory repellent must be anchored with lath or steel rods and states protect jackrabbits through also be noninjurious to plants. regulations. Most states in which braced away from the trunk to prevent snowshoe hares occur have some rabbits from pressing them against the In the past, a variety of repellents have regulations protecting them. Consult trees and gnawing through them. been recommended in the form of paints, smears, or sprays. Many of local wildlife agencies to determine the Types of tree protectors commercially these afford only temporary protection legal status of the species before apply- available include aluminum, nylon and must be reapplied too often to ing controls. mesh wrapping, and treated jute card- warrant their use. Other, more per- board. Aluminum foil, or even ordi- sistent materials have caused injurious nary sacking, has been wrapped and Damage Prevention and effects to the treated plants. Some tied around trees with effective results. Control Methods chemical substances such as lime- Wrapping the bases of haystacks with sulphur, copper carbonate, and asphalt Exclusion 3-foot-high (0.9-m) poultry netting pro- emulsions have provided a certain Fencing. Exclusion is most often vides excellent protection. amount of protection and were harm- accomplished by the construction of less to the plants. These are less com- Cultural Methods fences and gates around the area to be monly used today and have been protected. Woven wire or poultry net- Habitat Manipulation. In areas replaced by various commercial prepa- ting should exclude all hares from the where jackrabbit or hare damage is rations such as ammonium soaps, cap- area to be protected. To be effective, likely to occur, highly preferred crops saicin, dried blood, napthalene, use wire mesh of less than 1 1/2 inches such as alfalfa, young cotton plants, thiram, tobacco dust, and ziram, (3.8 cm), 30 to 36 inches (76 to 91 cm) lettuce, and young grape vines are which are probably more effective. high, with at least the bottom 6 inches usually most damaged. Crops with Repellents are applied during either (15 cm) buried below ground level. large mature plants, such as corn, usu- the winter dormant season or summer Regular poultry netting made of 20- ally are not damaged once they grow growing season. Recommendations gauge wire can provide protection for beyond the seedling stage. Where pos- vary accordingly. 5 to 7 years or more. Although the ini- sible, avoid planting vulnerable crops Be sure to use repellents according to tial cost of fences appears high—about near historically high hare populations.