Some decades ago the European hare (Lepus europaeus), a characteristic inhabitant of an extensive agriculture landscape, was common in Central Europe. Since then habitat changes, such as an intensification of land use... [ view full abstract ]
Some decades ago the European hare (Lepus europaeus), a characteristic inhabitant of an extensive agriculture landscape, was common in Central Europe. Since then habitat changes, such as an intensification of land use practices accompanied by a significant decrease in fallow land and structural diversity, are thought to be the main drivers of a dramatic decrease of European hare numbers throughout Europe.
Since 1997 European hare populations are monitored in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany, where hares are hunted cautiously. Hunting bag statistic in the hunting year 2016/2017 comprises 7.157 individuals, including 35 % individuals killed by road accidents or found dead. The census is an important part of the state-wide small game census conducted by the Wildlife Research Unit of Baden-Württemberg (WFS).
Spot light counts are conducted on a voluntary basis by local hunters in their hunting districts, initially instructed by an expert of the WFS in order to ensure data collection quality and long-term commitment. Hunters drive by car on determined routes, lighting on open fields and meadows and count every hare they spot. By knowledge of the lighting range and the route length, relative hare densities per unit (e.g. individuals per 100 ha field area) can be calculated. Counts are conducted twice in spring and in autumn, which also enables to determine annual population growths rates. Data are gathered and analyzed by the WFS and reported on a regular basis, such as the annual hunting bag statistic report (Jagdbericht Baden-Württemberg), the three-year published wildlife report (Wildtierbericht Baden-Württemberg) or hunting magazines. The project is conducted in cooperation with the Hunters’ Association of Baden-Württemberg (Landesjagdverband Baden-Württemberg). Currently 190 hunting districts take part in the small game census, starting with initially only a hand full in 1997.
Analyses of the data show that hare densities fluctuated considerably during the whole census period (considered years 2003 – 2017), ranging from 10.0 to 13.2 hares/ km2 (median) in spring and 9.2 to 13.5 hares/ km2 (median) in autumn. 15-years average mean population densities were stable on a relatively low level (mean: 11.0 hares/ km2 (median) in spring and 11,2 hares/ km2 (median) in autumn. Yearly growth rates differed each year, ranging from -8.6 to 23,9 % (median). 15-years average growth rate was 6.3 percent (median).
The continuous census shows trends in hare population densities as well as reproduction and mortality. The analyses provide the basis for management guidelines for the conservation and sustainable use of European hare populations in Southwestern Germany. Further, this long-term study enables to provide and to refine exact guidelines and recommendations of European hare censuses for scientists and practitioners.
Topics: Social-ecological systems as a framework for conservation management , Topics: Management of Human-Wildlife Conflicts: “Other” Species in Europe
