Snowshoe hare feeding behavior responds to coyote and moose cues at diverse vegetation densities

Abstract

Abstract Heterospecific competitors can use chemical cues left by dominant species to avoid aggressive interactions. Similarly, prey avoid chemical cues from predators at feeding sites, presumably because risk of death outweighs the benefit of food. This study addressed the lack of information regarding mammals’ avoidance of direct cues from competitors and also examined how indirect cues, i.e., vegetative cover, affect foraging behavior. To test if chemical cues and vegetative cover alter the number of visits by prey species and time spent at feeding plots, we observed snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) in plots containing coyote (Canis latrans; predator) and moose (Alces alces; competitor) urine across a spectrum of vegetation densities. Snowshoe hares significantly reduced number of visits to plots that contained coyote or moose urine. In plots treated with coyote urine, number of visits decreased significantly as plots became more densely vegetated. Neither chemical cues nor vegetation density affected time spent in plots. These results suggest that competition between snowshoe hares and moose has selected for an avoidance response. This study also reinforces the idea that an increase in vegetation density could prove disadvantageous to prey, perhaps because some predators use dense vegetation to their advantage.