On the population of the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus PALLAS) in Bavaria

In 1999 brown hares were counted using the headlight method (PEGEL 1986) during the course of two counting periods (end of February to mid April; beginning of October to mid November with occasional counts continuing into December). 305 districts from 56 Bavarian counties participated in the counts. The population densities of Brown hares determined from the counts varied between 3 and 83 hares per sq. km (of total areas counted) in the spring and between 1.2 and 147.4 hares per sq. km in the fall. The highest densities were determined for the natural areas in Maintal, Mittelfrankisches Becken, Frankenhohe, Nordlinger Ries, Dungau, and Unteres Inntal. The evaluation of data from the individual districts that have been conducting counts of brown hares since 1996 shows a steady increase in the base population in the spring. With the aid of statistical analyses positive correlations between the density of field hares and various complexes of factors were determined. Accordingly, the density of hares increases with favourable climate, the proportion of agriculturally used areas, particularly grain fields, as well as with greater diversity and natural breaks within fields. Further conclusions pertaining to land use can be made when all data have been compiled.