Snowshoe hares have become more prevalent on Prince Edward Island following post-tropical storm Fiona, according to a provincial wildlife biologist. Garry Gregory from P.E.I.’s fish and wildlife division noted an increase in sightings of what many Islanders initially mistake for rabbits in their yards. However, these animals are actually snowshoe hares, which are native to the province.
While there is no formal tracking data confirming a rise in the snowshoe hare population, Gregory believes that changes to the landscape post-Fiona make it plausible that their numbers have grown. The storm debris left behind, such as brush piles and fallen trees, has provided ideal escape cover for hares, making them less accessible to predators.
The storm’s impact also led to the growth of early successional plants that hares rely on for winter food, including willows, grey birch, maples, and pin cherry. This new habitat benefits not only hares but also other wildlife like songbirds and game birds that utilize early successional growth.
Gregory emphasized that the increased hare population does not necessarily translate to a surge in predators on the island. Unlike in northern regions where predator populations fluctuate in tandem with hare cycles, P.E.I. predators are more generalized in their diet.
For Islanders encountering hares in their yards, Gregory advised against feeding them as it could habituate the animals to human interaction and potentially lead to dangerous encounters with pets. He also addressed concerns about ticks on hares, clarifying that the tick species commonly found on hares are not the ones associated with Lyme disease, and infestations typically do not pose a serious health risk to the animals.
