The following article appeared in the February 2023 issue of the
THE RABBIT HUNTER
magazine
It is presented here for the reading pleasure of the members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny
by the author.
PREDATORS
Do We Need More?
writing and photography
by
Joe Ewing
 |
| photo by J. Ewing |
The snowshoe hare sits motionless. Always alert, the snow-white, varying hare sits atop a snow-covered log, watching and listening. It’s been leading the hounds through the foreboding wilderness for hours. It shows no sign of urgency. The beagles do not threaten the hare. The varying hare is confident there is no raucous dog alive he can’t outrun.
The terrain is unfriendly and hostile. The snowpack is deep, the air frigid; however, the lagomorph’s heavy white coat keeps it warm, and, as its name suggests, its enormous hairy hind feet keep the hare afloat atop the snow. The continuous uproar of the hounds keeps the magnificent animal apprised of the beagle’s location. It’s only a game to this elusive creature of the wild forest. It’s the hare’s lair.
Except for its black-tipped ears and dark eyes, which can see virtually 280 degrees, the hare is all but invisible against the white background of the snow. Only a sharp eye could detect the creature. Its ears individually scan the terrain like twin radar antennas while all senses, eyes, and nose work in unison in the relentless search for danger. Suddenly, the hare’s ears perk up—the constant tonguing of the hounds grows louder—it listens intently--the hare springs to attention now on full alert. The unrelenting beagles are closing.
Although able to reach nearly thirty miles per hour in deep snow, stop on a dime, and turn 180 degrees in midair, the hare will not need its speed or agility in front of these hounds. However, it will use every trick it knows to outsmart and confuse the hounds—the hare, when running, can leap almost 10 feet. The hare will run the same track again and again. It will bound off its route, sit completely still, wait for the hounds to pass, then race off in the opposite direction. When all else fails, the hare’s frequent modus operandi is an attempt to outrun the beagles. It will lead the beagles a mile and more through rough terrain, over logs and boulders, under brush piles, up mountains and down, make a small circle, and run the mile back, reenacting every maneuver. Without panic, the hare silently hops off the log and disappears into the underbrush like the white ghost it is.
Photo by J. Ewing
Always alert, the snow-white, varying hare sits atop a snow-covered log, watching and listening. |
While playing this game with the beagles, the hare is always alert. The danger is around every corner, behind every log, under every brush pile, and from the sky. Predators with sharp eyes, speed, and wit lay in wait. Raptors stealthily hunt from the skies and strike without warning. The hare does not know he’s outnumbered.
The hare is relentlessly on some predator’s menu. Raptors include up to nineteen different kinds of avian predators in Pennsylvania. Five types of hawks, eight species of owls, falcons, bald eagles, and vultures patrol the skies. Often not mentioned are the highly intelligent crows and ravens, which raid the nest and eat the young of all species. Ground predators, including squirrels and red squirrels, three kinds of weasels, gray foxes, red foxes, coyotes, bobcats, fisher, and mink, are just a few of the hare’s nemeses.
Observing one of God’s most fabulous creations in the wild is a rarity, a thrill, and an education. Watching a majestic snowshoe hare is a rare and beautiful sight that is hardly worth a kill. I’ve witnessed the scenes I’ve described hundreds of times over my hare hunting career. Not only have I observed countless snowshoe hare in the wild, but cottontail rabbits, Appalachian and eastern, ruffed grouse, wild turkeys, deer, bear, and most predators. I’ve witnessed the actual predation of many small animals. The beauty of the wild forest makes a person forget what a cruel and deadly place the natural world can be.
Lepus americanus (snowshoe hare) is in substantial trouble in the Wilds of Pennsylvania, as it has been for years. The snowshoe hare and other small game compete with declining habitat, vast numbers of whitetail deer, human interaction, and climate change. Recently snowshoe hare has been joined by eastern cottontail rabbits, Appalachian cottontail rabbits, ruffed grouse, and wild turkeys.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) biologists admit populations of these game animals are in decline, and they readily acknowledge they do not know why. They ensure us that predators are not responsible. Small game hunters are told hawks and owls do not eat rabbits, and fishers don’t eat turkeys or snowshoe hare. Deer hunters can be confident coyotes don’t eat deer. We are advised not to worry. The PGC biologists are so certain predators are of no concern they have eagerly concocted a plan.
The PGC has unequivocally elected to reintroduce the American pine marten into the wilds of Pennsylvania. According to the PGC’s Wildlife Notes page, “Now the Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking to return this iconic species of the forest to Penn’s Woods.” The biologists claim in an article, “92% of hunters surveyed support reintroduction.” They claim “sufficient habitat exists—such as the PA Wilds.” There is no turning back now.
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| – photo courtesy Wikipedia |
American marten
As a beagler and small game hunter, my initial reaction to the distressing news was condemnation and criticism. My knee-jerk response was, “no way this is a good idea.” Some say they would love observing pine martin because they are so cute. This is the same fascination some people have with fishers and otters, but after seeing an otter cleaning out your favorite fishing hole, maybe they are not so cute. Or, not finding any hare in excellent habitat because a fisher found it first; they become not so appealing. Others say they look forward to trapping marten. I don’t think too many old-timers need to worry about trapping. If marten reintroduction should work, it will be years before a trapping season could be opened. Some states have no active trapping after more than twenty years since the introduction of marten. After giving the idea much thought, I don’t know what is right. I’m confused more than ever. I’m not sure reintroduction will even work. The PGC biologist will be holding reeducation meetings starting in the new year.
Having never seen a marten, I know little about the American pine marten (Martes americana). I know it’s a weasel closely related to the fisher, now abundant in Pennsylvania. As I started researching the mammal, I uncovered some startling and interesting facts.
Courtesy Wikipedia
American pine martin--Martes americana |
The pine martin was a native of Pennsylvania before being eradicated in parts of the northern United States because of logging and over-harvesting in the early 1900s. Pennsylvania’s northern counties held the highest densities before extinction, and it was widely hunted and trapped for its lush pelt.
Compliments Wikipedia
The American pine marten’s range today. |
The pine marten is a long, slender-bodied weasel weighing between one and three pounds, about the same size as a mink. The marten sports a distinguishing bib that is a different color than its body. Male martens are much larger than females. The marten’s large feet allow for reasonable travel over snow. Its short legs and narrow body enable the marten to access holes, cavities, and crevices on the ground and within trees where it does most of its hunting. It dens in trees and spends most of its time in the canopy while hunting mainly on the ground. In winter, the martin hunts in tunnels beneath the snowpack. Martens are swift tree climbers with sharp claws. The marten may be confused with fishers, but the marten is lighter in color and smaller in size.
Complements Wikipedia
The marten is a ferocious hunter of smaller mammals and birds and a scavenger of berries. The PGC article says, “…their diet is very diverse, including small mammals, insects, and plant material.” The pine marten’s regimen includes mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, vegetation, and fish. The small mammals mentioned above consist of voles, shrews, and mice. At some time, all animals are small.
From Wikipedia, “Voles dominate diets throughout the American marten’s geographic range, though larger prey—particularly snowshoe hares—may be important, particularly in winter.” The New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry writes, “[marten] will also eat birds and birds’ eggs, insects, reptiles, amphibians, flying squirrels, red squirrels, eastern chipmunks, moles, shrew, and snowshoe hares.” The New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan says, “To compensate for scarce prey and higher metabolism during winter, marten have been known to shift to larger prey, such as snowshoe hare.”
According to the official Vermont government website, “The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the U.S. Forest Service attempted to restore a marten population in the state. Beginning in 1989, a total of 115 individual marten were live-trapped in Maine and New York and released at several different sites in the Green Mountain National Forest. However, extensive monitoring and surveys conducted throughout the 1990s indicated the reintroduction effort had failed. Marten remains on Vermont’s endangered species list and is protected accordingly.”
In New Hampshire, “it appears that northern New Hampshire has an expanding population of marten; however, the marten is considered ‘threatened’ in New Hampshire.” --New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan.
The first attempt to re-establish marten in Michigan was in 1955. The reintroduction of martens continued in 1985 and 1986. The first modern marten trapping season was initiated in 2000 with a limited short trapping season on marten and a low bag limit. Marten has an endangered status in Wisconsin. In 1972, American martens were placed on the Wisconsin Endangered Species List. Wisconsin now has two marten populations; however, Pine martens are protected by legislation.
The PGC will be “opening up a dialogue” with ‘everyone’—especially turkey hunters—that has a question or concern.” They are going to develop educational materials, hold Facebook Live events and other presentations to “keep the public in the loop.” The “campaign” to roll out after Christmas.
You now have a small amount of information on the American pine martin. I will inform you how marten reintroduction goes in the Wilds of Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
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