The Effect of Conspecifics on Juvenile Survival and Recruitment of Snowshoe Hares

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Abstract
The hypothesis that the presence of adult or 1st litter juveniles can limit survival and recruitment of snowshoe hares (L. americanus) was tested by removing adults or 1st litter juveniles from peak populations. The removal of adults improved survival of juvenile females in summer and of juvenile males in autumn. Removal of 1st litter juveniles did not improve survival of 2nd litter animals. Removal of adults of 1st litter juveniles increased recruitment, particularly through immigration. Although immigration was limited by the presence of conspecifics, 30% of the recruits caught on the control area were immigrants, suggesting that juveniles begin to disperse at an early age and considerable movement between populations occurs. The chances of a disperser becoming resident in a new population decreased from summer to autumn.