HEADLINES:
"PGC set to launch study of snowshoe hares"
According to a recent (November 22, 2019) article in the PENNSYLVANIA OUTDOOR NEWS Southwest Correspondent, Deborah Weisberg reports, "the Pennsylvania Game Commission will begin a rigorous study of snowshoe hare high in the Pocono Mountains in January."The correspondent goes on to say, "Specifically, wildlife biologists will seek to determine how hares respond to various habitats, so they can tailor forest management to benefit the species, said Emily Boyd, the commission's small-game mammal biologist.
Duane Diefenbach, a wildlife biologist and adjunct professor at Penn State claims, "However, scientist don't have a good handle on hare abundance and concerns persists about impact from habitat loss and climate."
The PGC has relied on "hunter-take surveys" to estimate population stability and distribution. Boyd implies that relying on these surveys makes for a lack of extensive data on hares. Boyd says last years harvest was about 540 snowshoe hares. It is never mentioned how this low number could be from lack of hunters hunting the species and/or hare hunters who do not want to kill the majestic animals.
"Few options exist for mitigating further loss, but developing early successional habitat could potentially improve hare's resilience to climate change, and increase survival in their range," said Diefenbach. Snowshoe hare enthusiasts have heard this tune many times before. We always and forever are developing early successional habitat.
And when it comes to climate change, again, I quote the PGC itself: "Recent studies indicate the transformation is caused by the increase or decrease in the length of the days as the seasons change throughout the year. From March to May the lengthening days cause gradual shedding of the pure white winter hair which leaves the snowshoe hare with a splotched coat, then finally with a pure brownish-gray summer fur. The process is reversed from late September to December."
Until such time when "the length of the days" changes, it is our contention there can be no "resiliency to climate change". When winter snow fails to fall the snowshoe hare will be at the mercy of the climate.
