ABSTRACT
Snowshoe hares are widely distributed throughout the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska, the northern states, in the Rocky Mountains south to New Mexico, and in the Appalachians south to Virginia. They are found primarily in continuous coniferous forests. In the northern part of their range, snowshoe hare population densities fluctuate from less than 20 hares per square kilometer during population “lows” to 2000 to 3000 hares per square kilometer during population “highs”. Live-trap recapture studies are effective in determining habitat preferences, seasonal habitat use, home range size and spacing, and demographic features. Home ranges of hares may overlap, with several hares being caught at a single trap station. The chapter describes the techniques that may be used in part for jackrabbits and cottontails, as well as snowshoe hares.
