A fresh cover of snow on the ground usually reveals where snowshoe hares have been travelling. Their numerous tracks often overlap in the woods where ‘bunny trails’ lead to and from favorite resting and feeding areas. But not this year. There isn’t a snowshoe hare track to be found.
It’s been several months since I’ve caught sight of a single hare in the yard or along the Salt Marsh Trail. Up until this past summer, it seemed like their numbers were growing. They were visible on lawns and in the woods and parks. However, snowshoe hare populations are known to rise and fall, usually every ten years or so. This phenomenon takes place all across Canada. In northern regions, their cycle coincides with that of the lynx.
Over the past year, bobcats have been sighted in Cow Bay. Like the lynx, they too prey on snowshoe hares, as do coyotes, foxes and eagles. With so many predators in the area, as well as loss of habitat due to deforestation, it’s no wonder that hare numbers are low.
Another factor that may have affected hare populations is that we didn’t have snow until recently, making any hares sporting winter coats easy targets for predators. Hare coloring becomes whiter as daylight hours decrease in number.
Next month, February 3rd will mark the first day of the Chinese New Year. The 12 year cycle of animal years makes this coming year one of the rabbit. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll be seeing many bunnies this year. At least not in Cow Bay.
Each thing is of like form from everlasting and comes round again in its cycle.
~ Marcus Aurelius
Interesting that even with the rise in predators due to the continuing loss of their living quarters to our human demands for more without giving back–even with that rise you have not spotted a hare. If there are no hares to feed the predators then how long will the predators last? I am considering the fallout in the food chain from top to bottom. It appears that the human predator is groging itself on everything and leaves nothing for any other living thing. I hope some hares put in an appearance–unless there are no more left to even breed.
I comprehend your possible explanation about the natural rise and fall of populations–but–the factor of “us” and our actions looms darkly in the bigger picture.
47whitebuffalo, there are probably still a lot of voles and mice out there for the bobcats, coyotes and foxes to eat.
In my post I didn’t mention the presence of all the domestic cats I’ve found in my yard over the past year. I’m sure they’ve done a number on the hare population too. Baby bunnies are especially vulnerable to their attacks as hare mothers leave them alone for most of the day.
Where we live the predators seem to be on the rise because of the increased human population. At least we can say there are lots and lots of coyotes around, where 30 years ago there were almost none. (When mice and rabbits run out, cats and small dogs make tasty meals for large meat-eaters. Supervise pets!) White hares against brown background would have been at a disadvantage, also, as you note.
What about the population of owls and raptors? Sometimes we forget that a predator can swoop down on a mouse or rabbit from the sky, leaving only the tell-tale track that goes nowhere.
Pamela, I haven’t seen an owl out here in years but that’s not to say they haven’t seen me. Hopefully people are watching their pets. I’ve always had indoor cats and could never understand why other owners would risk letting theirs outdoors in a neighborhood that borders woodlands.
I hate to see the hares decline. We still have a fair number, based on the tracks, but I don’t see them out and about the way I used to.
Human populations, too, rise and decline. Our predators are microbes. The climate challenges us. Our own limitations challenge us. We are part of, not different from, all of the natural world. Can we choose our own fate? That is an interesting question.
Gerry, I love seeing the hares hanging out in the yard. I hate to see their numbers decline too. There is great mystery in these cycles, both of hares and of men. All that we know for sure that is ahead is change. Hopefully we’ll have the strength to adapt. I’d hate to see the microbes win.
You have a new format since I’ve been gone, Ms. Amy-Lynn. Interesting about how animals will be seen in abundance, then disappear. There has been many studies on Isle Royale in Lake Superior about the relationship between moose and wolves. How the numbers will go up and down, up and down. Nature working herself out.
Nice to see you again Kathy :)
Yes, after more than two years, it was time for a change to the format. Just part of the blogging cycle I’m sure. It seems that whatever is living or is the work of humans seems to have a cycle of some sort. We don’t have to understand it to be a part of it. But something tells me that the wolves, moose, lynx and hares know more about it than we do.
The Snowshoe Hare – Lynx studies are classic population studies. However, humans screw it up with your correct assessment of the loss of habitat. I know your yard is good habitat but maybe you can get your local towns or schools involved in creating new habitat areas for the rabbits. For, once the rabbits, go so will the predators. Not to mention what plants the rabbits keep in check will become a problem. Everyone will be the poorer if that happens.
Scott, I think a lot of folks out here are pretty indifferent towards the hare population and wouldn’t mind it at all if the predators left. When large tracts of land are allowed to be deforested for residential developments, to cultivate small wild spaces seems like such a drop in the bucket.
The hares have always dined on the dandelions and plantains in my yard. I guess there will be more of them this spring.
Heard an NPR story recently about monarch butterfly migration. The Latin American end of the trip, undergoing heavy illegal logging, may do away with their winter home. The story concluded with kind of an “Oh, well,” saying that while the migration is in danger, there are lots of other non-migrating monarchs elsewhere in the world. I think they missed an important point, which is that the disappearance of butterfly habitat and butterflies will be a symptom, coming too late, that the mountains themselves are endangered. Logged-off mountains can’t hold their soil. Mudslides, floods, erosion follow. It isn’t only about hares and butterflies.
Pamela, no it isn’t only about just hares and butterflies. Indifference to the effect of our actions or inactions on Nature is a slippery slope. And a wet, muddy one too.
Flandrumhill, your blog was a lovely surprise :)
Thank you Bluestockings :) It’s nice to have a visitor from Down Under.
Nature made the rabbit swift, clever and prolific. Unfortunately, she also made the rabbit Delicious. Equally unfortunate, she would have no idea what the future condition of her creations would be.
Living in the city, wildlife is very had to come by! When Boyfriend and I were staying at a B&B in Northern California, one morning I saw – crouching at the base of our window – a Tiny Bunny. Not a caged one, not a pet one – just one out in the wild, taking note of the warmth and light of the new day.
Aubrey, I don’t know if it’s considered good luck to see a bunny in the wild. They have certainly been endowed with a number of special qualities. It seems to me that there’s always a bit of magic in seeing one.
Bunnies! I hope you catch a glimpse, if not a photo of a winter snowshoe. I’d love to see one. Enjoyed the post. Thanks for sharing it. :D
Thank you Yousei. I hope to catch a glimpse of one too or at least its tracks.