The German wildlife information system: population densities and development of European Hare (Lepus europaeus PALLAS) during 2002–2005 in Germany

Hunting quotas are used to manage populations of game species in order to ensure sustainable exploitation. However, unpredictable climatic events may interact with hunting. We established a population model for European hares (Lepus europaeus) in Lower Austria. We compared the sustainability of voluntary quotas used by hunters—which are derived from hare-specific guidelines—with the actual numbers of hares shot and our recommended quotas for hares, which have been derived from climate and population modeling. We used population modeling based on vital rates and densities to adjust our recommended quotas in order to achieve sustainable harvest. The survival of age classes 1 and 3 had the highest impact on the population growth rate. Population viability analysis showed that a recommended quota with a harvest rate of 10% was sustainable for population densities of 45 hares/km2, and that the threshold for hunting should be raised from 10 hares/km2 so that hare populations with <15 hares/km2 are not hunted. The recommended quota outperformed the voluntary hunting quota, since more hares could be harvested sustainably. Age Class 1 survival was strongly linked with weather: a single year with unfavorable weather conditions (low precipitation) negatively affected population densities. Game species, including the European hare, face increasingly frequent weather extremes due to climate change, so hunting quotas need to be sensitive to frequent population fluctuations.

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Playing and aggressive behavior of the European hare (Lepus europaeus) against dogs (Canis familiaris)

Proceedings of the Theriological School ◽

10.15407/ptt2016.14.149 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 (14) ◽

pp. 149-151

Author(s):

Ihor Merzlikin ◽

Keyword(s):

Aggressive Behavior ◽

Canis Familiaris ◽

Lepus Europaeus ◽

European Hare

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Lepus europaeus (Lagomorpha: Leporidae)

Mammalian Species ◽

10.1093/mspecies/seaa010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 (997) ◽

pp. 125-142

Author(s):

Anni Bock

Keyword(s):

Natural Resources ◽

Lepus Europaeus ◽

European Hare ◽

International Union ◽

Declining Populations ◽

The 1960S

Abstract Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778, commonly called the European hare, is one of 32 species of Lepus. It is widely distributed in Europe and Asia where it was not native but introduced by humans for sport. L. europaeus does not burrow, nor hibernate, and gives birth to precocial young (leverets). It prefers open grassland, fields, agricultural farmland, and pastures with hedgerows and bushes. Declining populations in several countries since the 1960s led to increased research to investigate the reasons; L. europaeus is considered threatened in several countries, but of “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

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Impact of Microtus arvalis and Lepus europaeus on apple trees by trunk bark gnawing

Plant Protection Science ◽

10.17221/64/2018-pps ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (No. 2) ◽

pp. 142-147

Author(s):

Josef Suchomel ◽

Jan Šipoš ◽

Ladislav Čepelka ◽

Marta Heroldová

Keyword(s):

Apple Tree ◽

Common Vole ◽

Apple Orchard ◽

Lepus Europaeus ◽

Microtus Arvalis ◽

European Hare ◽

Bark Damage ◽

Dead Trees ◽

Apple Cultivars ◽

Common Voles

A unique evaluation of the apple tree trunk bark damage caused by common vole and European hare was presented. Damage was found in an apple orchard under organic farming, in Central Moravia (Czech Republic), at 700 m a.s.l. There were two cultivated apple cultivars Red Spring and Melodie/Angold. Damage occurred in winter with the snow cover lasting from December to February. In total 1 012 trees and 95.7% of trees were damaged. The cv. Red Spring was damaged more than cv. Melodie/Angold. Almost 90% of the dead trees were killed by common voles. While hares damaged both cultivars equally, voles damaged the cv. Red Spring to a significantly greater extent (P = 0.04). The study confirms the need of further research on the development of methodologies for orchard protection from damage caused by small mammals.

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