Ohio Snowshoe Hares

Bryan · Post by **Bryan** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:00 pm

I was wondering if anyone in northeast Ohio knew how the hare that the division of wildlife were stocking are doing? Is anybody having any luck running them?

Huntin54 · Post by **Huntin54** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:23 am

There stocking Hare in Ohio thats awesome.

Is there any type of Article on this if so i'd like to read it.

beaglecrazy-scott · Post by **beaglecrazy-scott** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:39 am

yes they are stocking them , but they are PROTECTED, your not even allowed to hunt cottontails in the area until they change white....scott

Huntin54 · Post by **Huntin54** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:50 am

Do you know what state there trapping them from???

beaglecrazy-scott · Post by **beaglecrazy-scott** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:09 am

no it doesnt say.....scott

NorWester · Post by **NorWester** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:14 am

Why would they be stocking snowshoe hare in Ohio of all places? Surely they're not native to that area? Can you even find them in mid to lower Michigan?

patsmichbeagler · Post by **patsmichbeagler** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:23 am

yes you can find them in mid michigan well upper mid anyway butI have heard of them in the thumbarea also.

marr24 · Post by **marr24** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:58 pm

The hare was originally native to northeastern Ohio, though not in large numbers. From what I've heard the restocking hasn't been all that successful. I seriously doubt there will ever be a season on them in Ohio.

Here's an excerpt from an article that better explains it:

Snowshoe hares require a
consistent layer of snow throughout most of the winter in order for
their camouflage to be effective. That means that they can make
Ohio’s Snow Belt home.
Hares never were very common in Ohio, and were extirpated by the
early 1900’s. A few fell to trappers, but the main reason for the
species decline was deforestation for farming. Hares rely on
coniferous forests for their food source throughout the winter,
nibbling needles and gnawing on bark.
Since hares don’t move far from home, some human intervention
was necessary to reestablish a population. In the 1950’s the Ohio
Division of Wildlife attempted several times to reintroduce the
snowshoe hare to northeast Ohio. Over 600 hares were released,
but a breeding population was never established. The project was
abandoned for half a century. In 2001, almost 100 snowshoe hares
were trapped in Michigan and released in Ashtabula County.
Another 28 were released the next year, and there is some
evidence of a breeding population. In total, in the last 5 years, 398
hares have been released, with the hope of developing pockets of
breeding hares in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties. The animals
were brought in from Michigan and Maine, and are released in the
winter, when predation is lower.

Buckeye Bob · Post by **Buckeye Bob** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 4:30 pm

I live on the border of the release and in my estimation it has been a complete failure.A friend who lives 10 miles from the release had his lab catch 2 of them last winter.He is surrounded by cornfields and open woods.One was found as a roadkill 15 miles south of the release zone.Either the habitat is insufficient in the release zone or they are bringing in retarded hares.

klrconcrete · Post by **klrconcrete** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 4:48 pm

I know this is Ohio you are talking about but this program sounds like something that the Michigan DNR masterminded- are they involved at all? If I were a betting man Id put my money on yes.

klrconcrete · Post by **klrconcrete** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 4:51 pm

I cant help but picture a bunch of hare being turned loose in a cut over corn field! Leave it to Lansing!

bill (flint river ) · Post by **bill (flint river )** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:06 pm

just like the hare that were in argile swamp in the thump. they decided to clear cut it and turn 100 yots lose. what a bunch retards.

Bryan · Post by **Bryan** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:06 pm

I know they can't be hunted, but is anyone having any luck running them?

mybeagles · Post by **mybeagles** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:30 pm

Without a doubt, the reintroduction of coyote and eventually Wolves was messing with a eco system that was struggling to find a state of homeostasis. Now the deer, rabbits, fox, phesants, grouse, are dissapearing fast. I think we need some buffallo, moose, and polar bears to balance it all out, what do you think Kurt?

klrconcrete · Post by **klrconcrete** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:02 pm

We have a few moose and they are a real nice conversation piece for the tourists, no one DNR included knows what else they really mean to the ecosystem. Polar Bears are a must- our seal population in the Eastern U.P. has exploded in recent years.