Black-Tailed Jackrabbit Monitoring Report for Fiscal Year 2012

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/3012697· OSTI ID:3012697

Wilde, J. W. ^[1]; Lindsey, C. T. ^[1]; Nugent, J. J. ^[1]

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1. Mission Support Alliance, LLC, Hanford, WA (United States)

Anecdotal evidence suggests both black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) and white-tailed jackrabbits (L. townsendii) were historically abundant; however, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) currently list both the black-tailed and white-tailed jackrabbits as 'candidate' species of concern (WDFW 2012). Threats to jackrabbits include habitat loss and fragmentation. Lack of recent monitoring or sightings on the Hanford Site has led some to believe the population is declining, while others believe that jackrabbits may follow a cyclical pattern of population density. Black-tailed jackrabbits play an important role in the ecosystem, serving as a food source for large raptor and mammal predators including the coyote, golden eagle, and the State Threatened ferruginous hawk. Jackrabbits do not migrate long distances or go into a hibernation or estivation period, and rarely use underground burrows or dens (Best 1996). This highly localized and active ecology provides surveying opportunities through most of the year.

• Research Organization: Mission Support Alliance, LLC, Hanford, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-09RL14728
• OSTI ID: 3012697
• Report Number(s): HNF--54234-Rev.0
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES