Demographic responses of arctic hares Lepus arcticus placed on two predominantly forested islands in Newfoundland

Abstract

During January‐April 1989. we monitored survival, reproduction, and body condition of 19 radio‐collared arctic haresLepus areticusintroduced to two predominantly (80%) forested islands. Merchant (66 1 ha) and Burke (82 6 ha), in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland By late April, bone‐marrow fat (42 7%) and kidney fat indices were lower than found in populations on the mountain barrens of western Newfoundland However, most island hares gained weight overwinter, and litter sizes (mean. 4 2 in utero) and testis weights (mean, 8 3 g) were as large or larger than recorded from other introduced and natural populations in Newfoundland The distribution of telemetry locations, tracks and feeding sites indicated that hares frequented the scattered barrens (totalling c 30 ha) on both islands in greater proportion than available These results suggest that, in the absence of snowshoe hares and mammalian predators, forested regions interspersed with small patches of barrens can sustain arctic hares