Lepus americanus Erxleben 1777

46. Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus French: Lievre dAmérique / German: Schneeschuhhase / Spanish: Liebre americana Other common names: Snowshoe Rabbit, Varying Hare Taxonomy. Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777, “in America boreeli, ad fretum Hudsonis copiosissimus.” Restricted by E. W. Nelson in 1909 to “Fort Severn,” Ontario, Canada. It is taxonomically distinct from other species of Lepus and does not hybridize with any of them. As taxonomists are still trying to clarify the species differentiation in Lepus, the subspecific taxonomy is not elaborated yet. Recognition of subspecies might not be justified by the fact that variation is clinal and follows climatic gradients. Fifteen subspecies recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. L.a.americanusErxleben,1777—C&ECanada(SENorthwestTerritories,SENunavut,mostAlberta,Saskatchewan,andManitoba,S&SEOntario,Quebec,L.a.,andNewfoundland),alsoinNCUSA(NEMontanaandNorthDakota). L.a.bairdiiHayden,1869—SWCanada(SEBritishColumbiaandSWAlberta)andWCUSA(W&CMontana,Idaho,W&SCWyoming,NE&CUtah,NW&CColorado,andNCNewMexico). L.a.cascadensisNelson,1907—SWCanada(SCBritishColumbia)andNWUSA(SC,C&NCWashington). L.a.columbiensisRhoads,1895—RockyMtsinSWCanada(SEBritishColumbia,WCAlberta),andNWUSA(NEtipofWashington). L.a.dalliMerriam,1900—Alaska(USA)andNWCanada(NWAlberta,NBritishColumbia,YukonexcepttheNtip,S&WNorthwestTerritories). L.a.klamathensisMerriam,1899—WUSA(SWOregonandNCalifornia). L.a.oregonusOrr,1934—WUSA(NE&COregon). L.a.pallidusCowan,1938—SWCanada(WC&CBritishColumbia). L.a.phaeonotusJ.A.Allen,1899—WGreatL.a.RegioninSCCanada(SEtipofSaskatchewan,SManitoba,SWOntario)andNCUSA(NEtipofNorthDakota,Minnesota,NWisconsin,andNMichigan). L.a.pineusDalquest,1942—SWCanada(SCtipofBritishColumbia)andNWUSA(EWashington,NIdaho,NWtipofMontana). L.a.seclususBaker&Hankins,1950—NCUSA(SCtipofMontana,NCtipofWyoming). L.a.struthopusBangs,1898—ECanada(EQuebec,NewBrunswick,NovaScotia,PrinceEdwardI)andNEUSA(Maine). L.a.tahoensisOrr,1933—WUSA(ECCaliforniaandWCNevada). L.a.virgtnianusHarlan,1825—SECanada(SOntario,SQuebec)andNE&EUSA(fromMainetoPennsylvaniaandextremeNEOhio,TennesseeandNorthCarolina). L. a. washingtonBaird, 1855 — SW Canada (SW tip of British Columbia) and NW USA (W Washington and W Oregon). The Snowshoe Hare has been introduced by founder individuals of unknown subspecies affiliation to Kodiak I (Alaska) and Anticosti I (Quebec, Canada). Descriptive notes. Head-body 360-520 mm,tail 25-55 mm, ear 60-70 mm, hindfoot 112-150 mm; weight 1.1-1.6 kg. The Snowshoe Hare is the smallest species of Lepus, with small ears and large hindfeet. In summer, dorsal pelage is brownish, dusky gray, or even rusty; ventral pelage, under chin, and sometime feet are white. Most populations have a white fur in winter, although underfur remains gray, and white is restricted to hair tips. Some populations along the Pacific coast of North America are polymorphic because part of the population remains brownish in winter. Autumn molt occurs in August—=November, and spring molt occurs in March—June. Habitat. Various forest types of conifers, aspen, birch, beech, maple, and mixed hardwoods. The Snowshoe Hare prefers subclimax forest, transition zones, and swamp edges. Its populations reach peak numbers after fire when shrub and regrowth cover becomes dense, and lowest densities occur when forests mature and ground cover becomes sparse. The Snowshoe Hare favors edge habitat but avoids open habitat. It is not found as a relict species in small isolated patches of forest. A study showed that Snowshoe Hares use multiple vegetation types even when food and cover are apparently abundant in a single habitat. Food and Feeding. The Snowshoe Hare eats grasses, sedges, dandelions, ferns, and different herbs in summer. Its winter diet includes birch, spruce, willow, tamarack, and pine. Regular runways are used to reach favored feeding areas. Breeding. Reproductive season of the Snowshoe Hare occurs in March-September and is primarily controlled by photoperiod. Weather and phase of the population cycle, typical of Snowshoe Hares, can affect beginning of the reproductive season by c.3 weeks in Alberta. Onset of breeding was early in years with high spring temperatures and fewer days of snow cover. The Snowshoe Hare is promiscuous. Gestation is ¢.36 days. Two litters per year are typical in northern parts ofits distribution and at high elevations; 3—4 litters/year are typical in central parts of its distribution. Litter size increases by c.1 young from the first litter of the season to later litters, and regionally from c.2-2 young to c.6 young. Females have 7-5-17-9 young/year. Young start hopping at c.2 days old and dig at c.5 days old. Young gather at nursing places 1-2 hours after sunset and are nursed for 2-5 minutes immediately after females arrive. Young begin to eat solid food at 6-8 days old. Activity patterns. The Snowshoe Hare is nocturnal and rests in forms that provide cover during the day. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home range sizes of Snowshoe Hares are 5-9-13 ha in thick cover. Females have smaller home ranges than males, and adults have larger home ranges thanjuveniles. In the northern part of the distribution, populations cycle every 8-11 years, with peak densities up to 300 times higher than during the lowest phases but normal ranges are 10-30 times higher. Population cycles are synchronous over wide geographical areas. Causes that trigger population crashes are food scarcity due to the high densities during population peaks and predators, or only effects of predation pressure such as the Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis) wellknown case. Southern populations of Snowshoe Hares appear to be non-cyclic, or they fluctuate with reduced amplitude. The Snowshoe Hare has a clear dominance hierarchy. Males are more frequently involved in more intense interactions than females. Males are more dominant during winter, and females are more dominant during the breeding season in summer. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. The Snowshoe Hare is widespread, and its populations are stable. The population in Canada and Alaska is continuous, but they are fragmented further south in the contiguous USA. Some concern exists about status of populations in the south-eastern USA where the distributional limit might be receding northward due to habitat loss, fragmentation, increase in predator numbers, and perhaps climate change and resulting loss of snow cover. Status of distinct populations along the Pacific coast of North America is unclear. The Snowshoe Hare is an important game animal and a forestry pest. The Snowshoe Hare in New Mexico (USA) is in need of enhanced management and conservation attention due to restricted distribution and low densities. Bibliography. Adams (1959), Banfield (1974), Bittner & Rongstad (1982), Cary & Keith (1979), Cheng et al. (2015), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Feierabend & Kielland (2014), Flux & Angermann (1990), Frey & Malaney (2006), Graf (1985), Graf & Sinclair (1987), Grange (1932, 1957), Hall (1981), Hall & Kelson (1959), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Keith (1981, 1983), Krebs et al. (2014), Lomolino et al. (1989), Long (2003), Murray (2003), Murray & Smith (2008a), Nagorsen (1985), Nelson (1909), Nice et al. (1956), O'Farrell (1965), Pietz & Tester (1983), Sinclair et al. (1988).

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