The Hares of Calgary

[Vascilli]

Perhaps you have noticed my user title, it reads "Hare Expert." Although I may not be the definition of expert, I do know more about hares than any other animal that lives in this city. My username "Vascilli" is derived from the name/mispelling of one. (Long story, a girl in Cochrane and a typical summer day..) Onwards with the information.

To the layman/idiot, when they see one they will say "Oh look at the bunny/rabbit etc etc" but they don't know they are dead wrong. They aren't rabbits, they're hares. Specifically, they're white-tailed jackrabbits. Now the same layman/idiot may wonder "Hmm well what's the difference?" and that's when I tell you that baby rabbits are born without fur, open eyes, and remain completely dependent on mom for a few weeks before they're even mobile, whereas hares are born completely furred with open eyes and become mobile in less than half an hour. One could say hares are the hardcore version of rabbits, Rabbit 2.0 if you will.

Now we know what they actually are, but what about them? You say "But Vascilli, we want numbers!" and I say "Here you go, numbers to see!"

Their cruising speed is around 60km/h, with bursts of up to 75km/h.
Their mass is 3-4kg, quite substantial.
At top speed they can make strides of over 20 feet.
Home range is usually a few square kilometers.
Average litter size is 4, can be as low as 1 and high as 6. I've only seen 3.

"Well Vascilli, that was fun" you say, "but where would I find one?" Now that's a good question. They do like having a nice place to live, don't we all?

They make nests in places with good cover, ideal locations are under your deck or in a ravine.
Just like us, they make use of the same routes, essentially their own road system.
They enjoy eating leaves, look around bushes but expect them to eat grass more often.
Much to the chagrin of us, they are ground dwellers and will almost never be anywhere higher than the ground.
Any place with a park or large area of grass can have a hare or five.
During high winds, especially during winter they will make use of windbreaks, ideally trees with branches hanging to the ground from the weight of snow.
Sometimes during the summer you'll find a lazy one sprawled out somewhere warm for a good nap. The best place for a good sunbathe seems to be concrete pathway tiles or the like due to their heat retention. Do not expect them to be snoozing away in the middle of the street though, they're not dumb.
They are most active during dawn and dusk, but this may change as they learn that there are the least cars and people in the middle of the day.

Well now, you know what a hare is like, and where they are, now you've seen one and what do you do? Naturally, you pay a visit. My best tips after a few years of interaction.

Lie down and appear to be small. Hares seem to have bad depth perception and will not know how deep you are. Crawl towards them like a snake to minimize your vertical and horizontal size.
Do not make sudden movements. Pending on their age and experience, you can come within a few feet of them as long as you're smooth and sleek.
Breathe through your nose. I always do and I don't think it makes as much noise.
Empty your pockets of anything that can make noise, including change, keys, and electronics.
Do not wear bright colours. I've generally gotten closer without scaring them while wearing darker, more neutral clothes.
Use other noise as cover. If a car drives by, use it as your chance to move closer quickly.
If they do hop off a bit (They usually won't bolt at first) then make the approach again from a different angle. Go back, around, then come in again.

Now you can get close, but what fun is that if you can't record it? Keep this one fact in mind: Hares have a higher hearing frequency than humans. This means..

If recording video, use solid state storage, such as the video function on a point and shoot camera or a SD based camcorder. They will probably hear the whine made by the tapes in a camcorder or even the spin of a DVD or hard drive.
If taking pictures, be as quiet as possible again. Turn autofocus and/or shutter noises off.
They can hear the shutter of an XTi very well, sometimes even if you're inside.
They cannot hear the shutter of a 1D II as well because of it's lower noise. Keep AF beep off again.
They will probably hear the whine made by any optical-based image stabilization.

Excellent, you now have some good pictures or video, but if you haven't already, then what fun stuff could they be doing?

Wiping their nose with their front paws. Girls probably think this is cute.
Squeezing under a gate.
Taking a nap.
Eating.
Spying on someone. I've seen them lie perfectly still and flat, then raise a single ear and tune it into someone talking across the street.
Cleaning themselves. They can stretch their rear legs and groom their own feet without turning around.

"Hmm, that's fun. What other fun things about them do you know, Vascilli?" Well, you'd be surprised..

They hate crows. I saw one being pecked by a gang of them and he got pissed.
Girls are a bit bigger than boys.
They can swim.
When they change colour from white to brown, their stomach and tails stay white. (Hence the name)
They can see behind themselves without turning their heads. Keep this in mind.
Their fur changes colour regardless of the actual landscape, it's a time thing.

Follow these tips and you'll find yourself flat on your stomach in the middle of a park, crawling towards a tiny hare with a huge SLR. Don't mind the weird looks your friends give you.

Some of my work:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2871017849_579fc385b2_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/2890323307_9c1f208c5c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/3004096421_15c044d14f_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3275414365_1e82880d4c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3367466946_4d36de7a10_o.jpg
This last one was taken with my 1D II and 200mm f/2.8L II. (Total cost used: $1500) The first shot with my new 200mm, I got much better results. I'd credit it to the lower sounding shutter on the 1D II, the lack of IS to make noise, and the silent USM autofocus. I got a dozen shots without any real reaction besides acknowledgment that I was about six feet away.

I hope you learned something, and remember that hares are not scared of you, they just don't like you. :tup:

[ummagumma66]

Awesome, There was a hare that went hopping by me at the PLC after I got my cast off on Wednesday, I had my camera with me but it was buried in my bag...

[sauril]

I see these guys in my alley pretty much every day around sunrise and sunset.

[freeweed]

I call 'em bunnies anyway. Easier to compare to the true rabbits of Canmore.

For anyone perplexed by that statement, visit this area of Canmore. (http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.083712,-115.354825&spn=0.004536,0.009656&z=17) About 20 years ago, someone released some domestic (pet) bunnies into the wild, and they've flourished. Local folks don't like hurting animals for the most part, so nothing's been done and the bunnies just about own that part of town.

[Danma]

I don't mind these guys. It's all the poop they leave behind on my sidewalk that I'm not thrilled about. Interesting facts! :)

[Bigtime]

Bunnies! :D

Any information on the bunny population explosion in the Bridgeland area?

[AirGuitarChampion]

Neat info. What is life expectancy?

There's a pretty good sized group that runs around together on the south side of Glendale, probably based out of the park that runs through there. Up to four chasing each other from lawn to lawn! Lots in Brentwood, north of Northmount too.

[sauril]

I call 'em bunnies anyway. Easier to compare to the true rabbits of Canmore.

For anyone perplexed by that statement, visit this area of Canmore. (http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.083712,-115.354825&spn=0.004536,0.009656&z=17) About 20 years ago, someone released some domestic (pet) bunnies into the wild, and they've flourished. Local folks don't like hurting animals for the most part, so nothing's been done and the bunnies just about own that part of town.

Funny, that was what I heard about the hares in Bridgeland and Renfrew as well.

[freeweed]

Funny, that was what I heard about the hares in Bridgeland and Renfrew as well.

As Vascilli points out, hares != rabbits. These are (formerly) pet rabbits, as opposed to what you normally see in Calgary - the big jackrabbits. It wouldn't surprise me if we have some domestic bunnies in Calgary as well, however.

I noticed a large increase in the hare population here that corresponded to the free-roaming cat ban. It happened about 10 years ago in Winnipeg and the rabbit (not hare) population exploded!

[mersar]

I know we've got a decent population on the U of C campus, probably the easiest place to get pictures as they've become quite used to people. I walked past 4 or 5 that were sitting on the grass near 24th Ave and University Drive last night, and they were only about 10 feet from where I was walking and didn't really move. One of them had already turned brown, the others were pretty much pure white still. Usually the best place to spot them is on the east side of campus between the Admin building and Crowchild (I've seen close to a dozen in a group in that area at a time before), and occasionally a handful will make their way into the Swann Mall area (by the Prairie Chicken and the pond).

As for the domesticated rabbits around, I know they've been a problem in Valley Ridge in the past, though it tends to ebb and flow over time depending on populations of other animals such as cats.

[lubicon]

We've got a ton of them running around Tuscany. I feel bad for the poor bastards, being a hare in Calgary must be a real bitch. They turn white in the winter and then it chinook's and all the snow melts. They stand out like sore thumbs, Mother Nature is cruel sometimes.

[freeweed]

We've got a ton of them running around Tuscany. I feel bad for the poor bastards, being a hare in Calgary must be a real bitch. They turn white in the winter and then it chinook's and all the snow melts. They stand out like sore thumbs, Mother Nature is cruel sometimes.

They also attract a lot of coyote action, at least on the other side of Crowchild.

IF there's a connection between the cat ban and the hare population, I gotta say - talk about unintended consequences. Ban the cats, import coyotes!

Then again, I think it's kinda fun to have wild dogs prowling my neighbourhood. They make quite a racket yipping and howling at night. It adds to the ambiance of tumbleweeds blowing down my street (the joys of a new development where half the homes don't have lawns).

[Rusty van Reddick]

You're a good writer, Vascilli. I'm impressed that you're still just a high schooler. I wish my students (more of them, I mean) wrote as well as you do.

All that said- "they're not rabbits; they're jackrabbits" doesn't seem to support your "they're dead wrong" very well.

[lubicon]

They also attract a lot of coyote action, at least on the other side of Crowchild.

IF there's a connection between the cat ban and the hare population, I gotta say - talk about unintended consequences. Ban the cats, import coyotes!

Then again, I think it's kinda fun to have wild dogs prowling my neighbourhood. They make quite a racket yipping and howling at night. It adds to the ambiance of tumbleweeds blowing down my street (the joys of a new development where half the homes don't have lawns).

The coyotes I see are definately not hurting. These ones are all fattened up and looking good, not like the scrawny ones you typically see.

Ever notice all the 'Missing - have you seen our cat' posters on the mailboxes in your area? Seems like there are a flurry of them in the new areas as people move into the area and let their cats outside not realizing they are tasty snacks for teh coyotes. I've heard several cats meet their maker in spectacular fashion during summer nights when our windows are open. It sounds horrible.

[freeweed]

Ever notice all the 'Missing - have you seen our cat' posters on the mailboxes in your area? Seems like there are a flurry of them in the new areas as people move into the area and let their cats outside not realizing they are tasty snacks for teh coyotes. I've heard several cats meet their maker in spectacular fashion during summer nights when our windows are open. It sounds horrible.

Huh, you're right, I've definitely noticed them but never made the connection. Being a Stephen King reader I ascribed that to a far more sinister conspiracy.

[jeffwhit]

But are they tasty?

[Vascilli]

You're a good writer, Vascilli. I'm impressed that you're still just a high schooler. I wish my students (more of them, I mean) wrote as well as you do.

All that said- "they're not rabbits; they're jackrabbits" doesn't seem to support your "they're dead wrong" very well.
Thanks for the kind words, English is generally one of my better subjects (92% in ELA 10 pre-IB) but although they're hares, their name is still the white-tailed jackrabbits. All jackrabbits are hares. (Weird, hm?)

Neat info. What is life expectancy?

There's a pretty good sized group that runs around together on the south side of Glendale, probably based out of the park that runs through there. Up to four chasing each other from lawn to lawn! Lots in Brentwood, north of Northmount too.
Sources say usually a few years, but some have said as high as 8. :koko: I'd put a good estimate at 5 years. 8 is more likely out in the wild far away.

Bunnies! :D

Any information on the bunny population explosion in the Bridgeland area?

I must investigate this. :haha: Lack of predators is first thought.

[entheosfog]

Excellent info, thanks for sharing!
There doesn't seem to be any (at least that I've seen) here in Vancouver but I used to see them all time when I lived back in Calgary and they seemed to be more evident in recent years. I used to work at Renfrew Chrysler and there were a ton of them guys running around the lot. Which would explain why I saw the odd coyote as well...
Nice pics, too!

[Ramsayfarian]

The coyotes I see are definately not hurting. These ones are all fattened up and looking good, not like the scrawny ones you typically see.

Ever notice all the 'Missing - have you seen our cat' posters on the mailboxes in your area? Seems like there are a flurry of them in the new areas as people move into the area and let their cats outside not realizing they are tasty snacks for teh coyotes. I've heard several cats meet their maker in spectacular fashion during summer nights when our windows are open. It sounds horrible.

We have the same problem in Ramsay. Cats go missing here all the time. My dog while normally a pacifist goes completely apeshit when he sees a coyote.

Being a city dog, I'm surprised that he even knows what they are, but he does and he hates them with a passion. Must be in his genes.

[Xelebes]

We have the same problem in Ramsay. Cats go missing here all the time. My dog while normally a pacifist goes completely apeshit when he sees a coyote.

Being a city dog, I'm surprised that he even knows what they are, but he does and he hates them with a passion. Must be in his genes.

Coyotes are wild dogs who usually don't hunt in packs. Their scents are probably offensive to a dog's nose.

[MarkL]

Jackrabbits are Clara's FAVOURITE thing in the world!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/167350437_13ad516cff.jpg

[bulliver]

Great Post, great shots, thanks! You were obviously able to get a lot closer than I ever have for a photo.

Here in Edmonton they are crawling all over the place. I see one every other day or so from my front porch. I agree they do seem smart, while I see them all over the place, I have never seen one splatted on the road.

[Vascilli]

I must remind you all, if you enjoy having them visit and eat your backyard, crack open any gates you have a bit because the snow sometimes blocks the gap underneath so they can't squeeze through. Apparently they don't like digging.

[Jimby]

my local hare couple is loving the partially green lawn!

[srperrycgy]

Great pics, Vascilli. At my now former workplace in the NE, there were many jackrabbits running around the grounds. There were many times that they startled me and vice-versa. One of them bolted 100m in a matter of seconds after seeing me once. :rolleyes: The population did seem to fluctuate, but there were always some about.

[Vascilli]

They are awfully fast, one ran past me at what must've been 50km/h, it was night and I didn't notice it besides the quiet patting of it's feet and a small object whizzing past. Their speed is very impressive, I'd love to see one do a real 100m run someday on a track. (How?)

[Jimby]

In my old neighbourhood there was a hare with a broken back leg that dangled behind but it could still hop quite fast. I saw it off and on for several months and then no more. Poor thing.

[Jimby]

Fifth Avenue Hare

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1130/734907774_35fefc69e5_b.jpg

[Vascilli]

Hmmm, looks a bit young. How nice. :D

[Jimby]

they both jumped away at the same time in opposite directions


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/230/496373357_c78e2c96d8_o.jpg

[mersar]

Couple I caught a few weeks back on the U of C campus:
http://compscience.info/public/images/2009/hare-1.jpg

http://compscience.info/public/images/2009/hare-2.jpg

http://compscience.info/public/images/2009/hare-3.jpg

[canucklehead2]

Edmonton is crawling with these... We have a neighbourhood hare that lives under neath our park sign a block away from my house... I always like urban wildlife if only that it makes our cities feel connected to the settings were in...

[Jimby]

Edmonton is crawling with these... We have a neighbourhood hare that lives under neath our park sign a block away from my house... I always like urban wildlife if only that it makes our cities feel connected to the settings were in...

our hares hop not crawl! :haha:

[Vascilli]

Nice photos everyone. :cheers:

They should be having their first batches of babies this month, expect to see them bouncing around loading up on food. They're usually a bit easier to approach as long as you don't startle them and stay quiet.

[Vascilli]

Brief update, the hares should be turning brown, the ones in my neighbourhood are. Their stomachs and tails are always white. They're generally easier to see when they're brown.

[Vascilli]

I have found out why it appears hares have bad depth perception, it turns out they actually do. It's because their eyes are on the sides of their heads. This does however mean they can see behind them, which is arguably more useful for an animal at the bottom of the food chain.

[bulliver]

Lot easier to get a decent pic with a telephoto. Happened across this guy at the UofA. He is wet from a short downpour.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3442502244_570a780d55_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/3442502244/)

[freeweed]

I have found out why it appears hares have bad depth perception, it turns out they actually do. It's because their eyes are on the sides of their heads. This does however mean they can see behind them, which is arguably more useful for an animal at the bottom of the food chain.

Yup. Most prey animals (deer being the classic case of this, certainly just about all grazers do) have eyes to the sides. Looking all around you for a predator is more valuable than looking straight ahead.

Predators (think dogs and humans) have eyes that face straight forward to track prey. In the case of our primate ancestors, it's arguable that things like fruit was our first prey, but the concept is the same.

[Vascilli]

my local hare couple is loving the partially green lawn!

I've finally seen the first couple today, they were eating up the grass in my backyard. I decided to postpone my dinner and pay a visit. I guess they like their privacy, they left shortly after. Pictures tomorrow.

[Vascilli]

I've finally seen the first couple today, they were eating up the grass in my backyard. I decided to postpone my dinner and pay a visit. I guess they like their privacy, they left shortly after. Pictures tomorrow.

Turns out I never got around to posting the pictures. :P

But...

My mom was putting some trash out on the deck and lo and behold, two fine hares munching on some grass. By the time I went to the basement to get my camera they were gone. My Vascilli-sense came upon me and I went to the front window, I look down and there's a smaller one directly below me, no more than six feet away and just outside the flower bed. I got some good shots, then he ran off for some reason. I decided to see where he was off to. Down the street I ran into him and another one on someone elses lawn, they decided to split. Not giving up, I see another one just a few houses down and yet one more a good twenty feet in front of me hidden in the shade. Eventually they went to the large field and the backyard, respectively. Pictures are coming soon, I just got back. (Dinner got cold :haha:)

[Wentworth]

I live on the edge of the city, they pretty much live in my side yard all winter eating our shrubs and plants. They got so hungry this winter they started eating our pine trees. We've also had coyotes, an owl, a weasal, voles, grouse, mice and gophers trespass on our property.

This morning, I heard some creature making a sound that sounded like what I would imagine a pterodactyl to sound like, but it was dark and I couldn't see where the sound was coming from.

[Yume-sama]

It probably wasn't a pterodactyl... though I have also seen some strange wild animals out west here. :haha:

[Jimby]

maybe it was a Chupacabra you heard?

[Vascilli]

I live on the edge of the city, they pretty much live in my side yard all winter eating our shrubs and plants. They got so hungry this winter they started eating our pine trees. We've also had coyotes, an owl, a weasal, voles, grouse, mice and gophers trespass on our property.

This morning, I heard some creature making a sound that sounded like what I would imagine a pterodactyl to sound like, but it was dark and I couldn't see where the sound was coming from.

Hmm, should've left them some food. :D

[Vascilli]

Massive photo update from yours truly, all taken with my 1D II and 200L. They cover the last month or so. They've just finished shedding their winter coats.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3506901282_d5aa62cc6b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3506094813_63b87dc4fc_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/3506095153_04a6e1deca_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3506902432_6c9771d27c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3506095971_a072cdeb12_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3506903264_a1eeda616c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3506903748_ddba868323_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3506904570_8d3979a174_b.jpg

You can see them all with their titles and descriptions, comments or whatnot right here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericandersson/).

[Jimby]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/3529816134_72061f875f_b.jpg

[Vascilli]

300mm, eh? Very nice. I kind of want a 500L or something, but I don't think dropping five digits on another prime just for hares is the greatest idea.

[Jimby]

Oh you noticed. I just got it today, and this is my first pic using it. I decided I needed a bigger lens for my trip to Africa in September and I think this will work fine.

[Vascilli]

What lens is it though? 70-300?

[crooked rain]

As someone mentioned, Bridgeland has a large population of domestic rabbits roaming free. Apparently there is an old timer who was raising them for food in his bakyard and some have escaped. They manage to survive the winter somehow, even though I don't think they are built for this climate the same way those mangy scrawny creatues are.

[Vascilli]

I must find these rabbits.

[Vascilli]

The hares had a baby, I got some shots a few weeks ago. It's about 25cm in these shots. I managed to get about six feet away with my 1D II and 200L.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/3624201862_4efcf3054b_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3623384397_18a9626a49_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3624205622_4258a397fa_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3624207544_1db8927df6_b.jpg

[sidepockets]

We live on the West side of Edmonton Trail on Meredith Road and, up until last week, had a family of four young domestic-type rabbits haging around on the boulevard in front of our condo. We are now down to two - a brown one and a black one - that arrive like clockwork every evening to munch on our grass.

[Vascilli]

I guess hares aren't as civil as rabbits then, they seem to pop in unannounced whenever they please.

[Vascilli]

Continued from my brief post in the Construction forum:


As promised, a picture of the mysterious urban hare that I spotted on 9th Ave. The remaining two pictures will be in the hare thread. It was a very small baby, and it kept running away when I tried to chase it away from going into the street and being flattened by traffic. I kind of want to take a trip up to the University to visit the hares there.

These pictures are far from being good, but I felt they were good for archival purposes. A hare database, if you will.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7542/n9r5821.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1852/n9r5822.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3694/n9r5826.jpg

[ksnaden]

Here is a baby hare that I found trapped in Coventry Hills. It was trapped in the basement window well. Had I not rescued it, it surely would have suffered a terrible fate. I released it again, only to come back a few hours later and see it stuck again. I let it go further in the back yard and I haven't seen it since.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/447/p7243345.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5263/p7243351.jpg

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6438/p7243358.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1145/p7243365.jpg

[O-tacular]

I knew a guy who had a phobia of rabbits. :haha:

[1ajs]

cute little thing

i see rabbits all the time here in central wpg wondering around

as for hares i've seen some prity big ones living at shells tank farm here in wpg

[Vascilli]

Here is a baby hare that I found trapped in Coventry Hills. It was trapped in the basement window well. Had I not rescued it, it surely would have suffered a terrible fate. I released it again, only to come back a few hours later and see it stuck again. I let it go further in the back yard and I haven't seen it since.


So cool!! :ahhh: My goal is to touch a hare. Maybe pet one.

I knew a guy who had a phobia of rabbits. :haha:


What a horrible life. :no:

[Vascilli]

So how's the hare population at U of C these days? I may be going 'rabbitwatching' (Term coined by a teacher of mine, long story) with a ladyfriend of mine this week, pending on how friendly the hares are.

[mersar]

Still quite a few around, though they tend to be less visible when its hot out.

[Vascilli]

Probably napping in the shade. Perhaps I'll visit in the early evening.

[freeweed]

I just have to say that I love the fact that we have this thread.

[Aegis]

Can anyone tell me the exact species name of these hares?

[lubicon]

Time to bump this thread courtesy of yesterday's Labor Day Classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXWJZGDMbj0&feature=player_embedded

[s211]

Time to bump this thread courtesy of yesterday's Labor Day Classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXWJZGDMbj0&feature=player_embedded

That guy sprung into the endzone like a BOSS. :cheers:

[CalgaryAlex]

That guy sprung into the endzone like a BOSS. :cheers:

I was pretty amazed that the hare knew exactly when to do a celebration flip. The crowd was more energetic at only two other moments: when the F-18s ripped over the stadium.

[DizzyEdge]

It actually makes me wonder if it was smart enough that it was mimicking what it had seen.

[CrossedTheTracks]

It actually makes me wonder if it was smart enough that it was mimicking what it had seen.

There was 1 touchdown scored by humans yesterday. And 3 by the jackrabbit(s), notwithstanding the fact that they weren't carrying the ball at the time. (The first hare-touchdown was immediately after the first play of the game, in addition to the video referenced above.)

I don't know who's learning from whom, but I think the bunnies are winning! :haha: