Short-term effects of logging on snowshoe hares in the boreal forest

Abstract

We investigated snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus Erxleben) abundance, home range size, daily movements, survival, and habitat utilization in black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands before and after clearcuts with protection of regeneration (CPR) in southwestern Quebec. Hare abundance was indexed by pellet counts in permanent plots 2 years before and over 4 years following logging (1991-1996). Home range size, daily movements, survival, and habitat use were measured by radiotracking 16 hares before and after logging, during 3 months between May and August 1992; some additional fixes were recorded monthly until the end of March 1993 for additional data on survival. Hare reaction to logging included immediate increased daily movements, larger home ranges involving partial or complete relocation, but no change in survival rate. After logging, hares moved to habitat structurally similar to the one they used before logging, but these sites contained larger trees and a greater proportion of deciduous species. Recent cutovers were unsuitable habitats for snowshoe hares despite protection of regeneration. Hares were still rare in clearcuts 4 years after logging. Residual forests are thus necessary to maintain hare populations in commercial timber landscapes.