The Distribution and Abundance of Arctic Hares in Newfoundland
1967; Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club; Volume: 81; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.5962/p.342804
ISSN0008-3550
Autores Tópico(s)Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
ResumoONE OF THE RAREST and least known of the native Newfoundland mammals is the arctic hare (Lepus arcticus bangsii).Yhe distribution maps of Cameron (1958), Hall and Kelson (1959), and Peterson (1966) indicate that arctic hares are distributed throughout the Island of Newfoundland.The purpose of this paper is to specify those sections of Newfoundland where hares are presently found and to present a hypothesis to explain the decline of hares that has occurred in the past 100 years.The arctic hare prior to about 1860 was widely distributed throughout much of the Island of Newfoundland and even occurred in wooded sections of the island (cf.Cameron 1958, Dodds 1960).Cameron (1958) and Hall & Kelson (1959) list specimens taken on the Avalon Peninsula in southeastern Newfoundland.Cameron (1958:75) states, "Local residents on the island told the writer that as children they recall their grandparents talking of snaring "mountain hares" around the fishing village.Now these hares are so scarce that few island residents have seen one, and many are unaware of their existence."Arctic hares are now primarily restricted to the massifs in western Newfoundland of the Southern Long Range Mountains, Northern Long Range Mountains, Buchans Plateau, Blue Hills of Couteau, Gregory Plateau, Doctors Hills, and Lewis Hills (Fig. 1).In addition I have received unconfirmed
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