Damage

Blacktail jackrabbit, Lepus californicus (left); whitetail jackrabbits, L. townsendii (middle);showshoe hare, L. americanus (right).

Hares consume 1/2 to 1 pound (1.1 to 2.2 kg) of green vegetation each day. Significant damage occurs when hare concentrations are attracted to orchards, gardens, ornamentals, or other agricultural crops. High jackrabbit populations can also damage range vegetation.

Most damage to gardens, landscapes, or agricultural crops occurs in areas adjacent to swamps or rangeland normally used by hares. Damage may be temporary and usually occurs when natural vegetation is dry. Green vegetation may be severely damaged during these dry periods.

Orchards and ornamental trees and shrubs are usually damaged by overbrowsing, girdling, and stripping of bark, especially by snowshoe hares. This type of damage is most common during winter in northern areas.

Rangeland overbrowsing and over-grazing can occur any time jackrabbit numbers are high. Eight jackrabbits are estimated to eat as much as one sheep, and 41 jackrabbits as much as one cow.

Estimates of jackrabbit populations run as high as 400 jackrabbits per square mile (154/km2) extending over several hundred square miles. Range damage can be severe in such situations, especially where vegetation productivity is low.

Legal Status

Jackrabbits are considered nongame animals in most states and are not protected by state game laws. A few states protect jackrabbits through regulations. Most states in which snowshoe hares occur have some regulations protecting them. Consult local wildlife agencies to determine the legal status of the species before applying controls.

Economics of Damage and Control

Jackrabbits consume considerable vegetation. In cases where their overuse of natural forage results in the reduction of livestock on rangeland, control measures may need to be implemented. Few studies have been conducted on the cost-effectiveness of jackrabbit control on rangelands. Damage must be extreme to justify expenditures for control programs. In most cases, cultural controls and natural mortality will suffice to keep jackrabbit populations in check.

Economic loss on croplands is much easier to measure. In areas with historic jackrabbit or hare damage, farmers should anticipate problems and have materials available to use at the first sign of damage. During dry times of the year or times of natural food shortages, preventive measures such as shooting and exclusion may be considered a part of regular operations. Jackrabbits and other hares can be deterred most easily if control measures are implemented before the hares become accustomed to or dependent on crops.