Natal dispersal of European hare in a high-density population

Despite the importance of conservation and management of the European hare, a game species that has declined throughout Europe, little is known about its natal dispersal process. To date, only one radio-tracking study in a mixed cropping-farmed landscape provides a fine description of the dispersal pattern of this species. The study shows in particular a negative density dependence dispersal, juvenile hares dispersing more in a low-density hunting zone rather than in a high density non-hunting zone. Unfortunately, the effect of conspecific density on dispersal remains ambiguous due to the confounding effect of hunting. To provide more insight into the influence of conspecific numbers on the dispersal propensity in hares, we renewed the study in a harvested high density population.